Summer in the Country (from "Appleton's Journal," Vol. I)
Original title: Summer in the Country (from "Appleton's Journal," Vol. I)
kurzbeschreibung
Four women in Victorian dress play bowls on a grassy field. Winslow Homer created the design as a wood engraving in 1869, and it was published as an illustration in Appleton's Journal.
Description
Four women appear in late Victorian attire: long skirts and blouses with ruffles. Two of them hold sticks that resemble bowling balls; one leans slightly forward, as if she has just drawn back for a throw. The group stands in a row at the center of the image, surrounded by meadow, trees, and a cloudy sky. The layout feels symmetrical, the background recedes gently, and the light is even, leaving no shadows.
Context
The wood engraving was made in 1869, when Homer was working as an illustrator for magazines such as Appleton's Journal. This print presents women's leisure activities in nature—a subject often taken up in American art of the late 19th century. Homer was regarded as a chronicler of rural life and bourgeois pastimes.
Impact
A quiet, idyllic mood emanates from the view, placing the beholder in a cheerful summer landscape. The balanced arrangement and even lighting create harmony and balance.
Technique
For this wood engraving, the design was cut into a woodblock and then printed on paper. Fine lines and a clear structure distinguish the technique. The image remains black and white, as was customary for wood engravings of that time.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)