No image by Charles Dana Gibson is more frequently reproduced in early 20th-century American magazines than They take a morning run, yet its original date and medium remain elusive. Gibson, famed for creating the iconic "Gibson Girl," captured the spirit of a new, modern woman—athletic, independent, and visible in public life. This particular work, widely circulated in periodicals, fed debates about women’s changing roles and the acceptability of female athleticism.

Its popularity coincided with the rise of women’s suffrage and the bicycle craze, both of which unsettled traditional norms. In They take a morning run, Gibson freezes a group of elegantly dressed women mid-stride, their long skirts gathered, hats askew, and faces lit with determination and camaraderie. The city park setting, dotted with trees and distant onlookers, frames their movement as both ordinary and quietly radical. The artist’s signature pen-and-ink line gives the scene a crisp immediacy: each figure is distinct, yet they move as a unit, suggesting solidarity.

The composition’s humor—hats nearly flying off, a stray dog darting alongside—recalls the lively social commentary of Honoré Daumier, though Gibson’s touch is lighter, more celebratory. The work’s energy lies in its contrast: genteel fashion collides with vigorous action, hinting at the social changes afoot. As with many of Gibson’s illustrations, the original drawing’s whereabouts are unclear; much of his output was produced for mass reproduction rather than gallery display. They take a morning run likely first appeared in a magazine such as Life or Collier’s, reaching thousands of readers and shaping public perception of the "New Woman." While some original drawings have surfaced at auction, this particular work’s fate is uncertain—its legacy survives in countless prints and anthologies.

Today, Gibson’s lively line and keen social eye are recognized as central to American illustration at the turn of the century, with his images preserved in both private collections and institutions like the Library of Congress.