Skating in Central Park, New York
Original title: Skating in Central Park, New York
kurzbeschreibung
Made in 1861, this color lithograph by Winslow Homer captures a lively scene on the ice in Central Park. Couples and solitary skaters are scattered across the surface, talking, turning, or simply standing still. The sheet was produced as a color lithograph with hand coloring.
Description
In the foreground several couples move across the ice, some holding hands, others absorbed in conversation. A few figures sit or lie on the ground, suggesting a fall. Behind them more skaters spread out across the picture. The palette stays mostly pastel, as was usual for color lithographs of those years, and daylight falls evenly over the whole surface.
Context
The print dates from 1861, only a short time after the outbreak of the American Civil War. Central Park had opened just a few years earlier and was quickly becoming a favorite gathering place for New Yorkers. Homer was earning his living at the time as an illustrator for magazines such as Harper's Weekly.
Impact
The pastel tones and the many different movements of the figures give the sheet a lively, cheerful character. Conversations, skating, and tumbles side by side create a busy atmosphere that stays close to the everyday life of the people depicted.
Technique
The motif was printed as a color lithograph and then colored by hand. The lithographic process allowed for sharp contours and clear areas of color, while the hand coloring brought its own subtleties to each impression. The image measures 42.4 x 68.7 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)