Conversation so far:
When did Thomas Eakin's early career start?
1871.
What kind of works did Eakins produce in his early career?
Eakins' first works upon his return from Europe included a large group of rowing scenes, eleven oils and watercolors in all.
What was his most popular early career work?
most famous is Max Schmitt in a Single Scull (1871; also known as The Champion Single Sculling).
What is a Single Scull?
Eakins placed himself in the painting, in a scull behind Schmitt, his name inscribed on the boat.
Why was this a popular painting?
Both his subject and his technique drew attention.
His selection of a contemporary sport was "a shock to the artistic conventionalities of the city".
What other works did he create in his early career?
At the same time that he made these initial ventures into outdoor themes, Eakins produced a series of domestic Victorian interiors.
What were some of the titles of this series?
Home Scene (1871), Elizabeth at the Piano (1875), The Chess Players (1876), and Elizabeth Crowell and her Dog (1874).

Question: What did the critics think of his early works?
Self-contained rewrite: What did the critics think of Eakins early works?