On the Road to Lake George (from "Appleton's Journal," Vol. I)
Original title: On the Road to Lake George (from "Appleton's Journal," Vol. I)
kurzbeschreibung
Published on July 24, 1869, in Appleton's Journal, this Winslow Homer wood engraving places three people on a country road, watching a horse-drawn wagon roll toward them. Black and white is the only palette here, as was standard for illustrated periodicals of the period.
Description
Three figures occupy the near stretch of road: the one on the left holds a branch, the other two carry buckets. All of them look toward an approaching wagon. Behind them comes another vehicle with passengers, one of whom has a rain umbrella open. Trees and hills line the open countryside as far as the horizon. Strong contrasts of light and dark, with densely packed lines, define the print's style.
Context
Homer made this illustration for Appleton's Journal, a widely read American magazine of the nineteenth century. High print runs were best achieved with wood engravings at the time, which is why magazines relied on them so readily. During the 1860s Homer worked as a freelance illustrator for several publications. Rural America in the years after the Civil War forms the setting of the motif.
Impact
Crisply drawn contours and a calm layout give the sheet a balanced, almost idyllic mood. Everyday country life is described here in a way that produces an air of quiet contentment. Because the figures in the foreground steer the eye toward the action, the viewer feels drawn into the view.
Technique
For a wood engraving, the design is cut into a wooden block and then printed. Hatching and finely set lines produce graduated gray tones. At roughly 15.6 by 16.8 cm, the format stays small, as was common for illustrated prints.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)