The Morning Walk – The Young Ladies' School Promenading the Avenue
Original title: The Morning Walk – The Young Ladies' School Promenading the Avenue (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XII)
kurzbeschreibung
Winslow Homer's wood engraving 'The Morning Walk – The Young Ladies' School Promenading the Avenue' from 1868 presents a group of young women strolling through a park. The image is rendered in black and white and was created for Harper's Weekly (Volume XII).
Description
In a line, the young ladies step from left to right. Their long-sleeved dresses are adorned with bows and lace, and on their heads they wear caps, hats, or scarves. A gentleman in a suit, with hat and cane, walks along but keeps somewhat apart. Trees and a fence form the background; on the fence hangs a sign reading 'LE ROMAN D'UN JEUNE HOMME PAUVRE'. Light falling from the front casts shadows of the figures on the ground.
Context
Homer made this wood engraving for the March 28, 1868 issue of Harper's Weekly. In the second half of the 19th century, magazine illustrations were often produced as wood engravings. During the 1860s, Homer worked regularly as an illustrator for this publication.
Impact
A calm, genteel mood of bourgeois leisure arises. Clear lines and a straightforward arrangement draw the eye to the fashionable clothing and the orderly pace of the group.
Technique
For the wood engraving, the motif was cut into a woodblock and then printed. Fine lines and hatching bring out details in the dresses and faces. The image measures 9 x 13 5/8 inches (22.9 x 34.6 cm).
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)