Our Watering Places – The Empty Sleeve at Newport
Original title: Our Watering Places – The Empty Sleeve at Newport (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. IX)
kurzbeschreibung
A figure in a suit and cap lounges in a small boat off Newport, while another person, holding a long pole, sits nearby. Winslow Homer's wood engraving 'Our Watering Places – The Empty Sleeve at Newport' appeared in Harper's Weekly on August 26, 1865, and addresses the aftermath of the American Civil War.
Description
On calm water, a boat carries two figures. At left, a person in a long-sleeved blouse and skirt holds a long pole or fishing implement. To the right, someone in a suit and cap has settled comfortably. A net partly covers the boat, and a lantern stands on board. Beyond the water, the coast and several sailing ships appear. The black-and-white illustration relies on clear lines and hatching.
Context
Homer drew this illustration for Harper's Weekly, one of the leading illustrated magazines in the United States at the time. It was published in August 1865, just months after the Civil War ended, and brings attention to the situation of the many amputee veterans. Newport was then a popular summer resort—relaxation and the war's consequences meet here in close quarters.
Impact
The boat rests peacefully, yet the figure with the empty sleeve disrupts the idyll. A quiet but insistent tension arises. Homer shows everyday life and casually reminds us of the war's losses, without pathos or sentimentality.
Technique
For this wood engraving, the image was cut into a woodblock—a relief printing process. Fine lines and hatching produce nuanced gray tones and many details. The image measures 23.2 x 34.9 cm, the sheet 28.3 x 40.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)