Making Hay, from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVI
Original title: Making Hay, from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVI
kurzbeschreibung
On July 6, 1872, Harper's Weekly published a wood engraving by Winslow Homer titled 'Heuernte' (Haymaking). The print presents several figures engaged in hay work. It is executed as a wood engraving, and the image area measures 23.2 x 35.2 cm.
Description
In the foreground a young man kneels with a sickle, gathering hay; he wears a plain shirt and a cap. Beside him two other figures in farm clothing and hats have settled on the ground—one holds a cup, the other has her arms crossed. Further back, a man also collects hay, surrounded by trees and shrubs. The reproduction remains monochrome, with evenly distributed light and no strong shadows, as is typical of wood engraving.
Context
During the 1870s Homer drew regularly for Harper's Weekly, an American magazine known for its wood-engraved illustrations. The preparatory drawing for this print was made in the same period. The chosen scene reflects the importance of agriculture in rural America after the Civil War.
Impact
The image is self-contained and idyllic; rural labor appears as a quiet process. The dense linework narrates the activity clearly, drawing the viewer directly into the work scene.
Technique
For wood engraving, the motif is cut into a woodblock and then printed. The depth of the cuts determines the weight of lines and shading, allowing details to be reproduced precisely.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)