Bathing at Long Branch "Oh, Ain't It Cold" (Every Saturday, Vol. III, New Series)
Original title: Bathing at Long Branch "Oh, Ain't It Cold" (Every Saturday, Vol. III, New Series)
kurzbeschreibung
A wood engraving by Winslow Homer, dated August 26, 1871, presents three women in a boat out on the sea. The print captures an ordinary bathing moment on the American East Coast, clean in its linework and free of sentimentality.
Description
Three women crouch in a boat rocking on the water, dressed in long dark gowns and hats. The one in the middle holds a stick or rod, while the other two point at something in the water. Farther off, more boats and bathers appear. The arrangement feels balanced, the light soft, the mood quiet.
Context
The engraving was published on August 26, 1871, in the magazine Every Saturday. It belongs to a series of beach scenes Homer made for that publication. Bathing at Long Branch, a favored seaside resort in New Jersey at the time, reflects the leisure habits of the American middle class after the Civil War.
Impact
Everyday and calm, the scene comes across as relaxed. The balanced arrangement and soft light lend it an idyllic quality. Despite the modest means of the medium, the engraving looks elegant and rich in detail.
Technique
Engraved lines and hatching do the work here, carrying tone through the image. The design was cut into a wood block and printed from it. Finely graded lines and the strong black-and-white contrast show the precision of the cutting. Homer used the process to bring out light and shadow to full effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)