Low Tide (from "Every Saturday," Vol. I, New Series)
Original title: Low Tide (from "Every Saturday," Vol. I, New Series)
kurzbeschreibung
Winslow Homer's wood engraving 'Low Tide', dated August 6, 1870, gathers a group of children on the beach as the water recedes. The black-and-white illustration was made for the magazine 'Every Saturday'.
Description
In the foreground two girls crouch in the sand, their hands cupped around something they may have found. Behind them, more children stand where the waves run out; some wear hats, and all are intent on what they are doing. The surf is only suggested, the sky above it flat and grey. Black and white govern the entire image.
Context
Created as a wood engraving for the weekly magazine 'Every Saturday', this print belongs to the many illustrations that circulated widely through the press in the nineteenth century. During the 1860s and 1870s Homer drew regularly for magazines such as 'Harper's Weekly'. The date August 6, 1870, suggests publication in the summer issue.
Impact
The quiet beach scene and the children absorbed in their activity give the print an unhurried, naturalistic quality. Because the rendering is limited to black and white, the graphic contours stand out clearly, and the viewer can readily follow everyday life by the sea.
Technique
The image was cut into a woodblock from which the print was taken; this allowed fine lines and precise details to be reproduced in large numbers. The picture measures 22.5 x 29.8 cm, the block 23.3 x 30.9 cm. Here the wood engraving shows how hatching and tonal values capture a beach scene.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)