The Runaway

The artist's early correspondence usually carried some mention of most of his work; however, there is no direct reference to this painting. The lack might indicate that he painted it on speculation while at home in Needham during the summer of 1903, hoping to place it with a publisher. In a letter written to his mother after his return to Chadds Ford (dated in another hand August 31, 1903, Wyeth Family Archives), Wyeth refers to a work for "Nash." He was concerned about the quality of a reproduction of "that colored drawing," which suggests his mother knew the work in question. Edgar S. Nash, the publisher of both editions of the print, was associated with Leslie's Monthly Magazine.

If the reference cited above is indeed to The Runaway, Wyeth was displeased with the quality of the print "because they used a cheap method of reproduction." It would be a situation that he would encounter again and again as an illustrator.