Christmas Belles
Original title: Christmas Belles (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XIII)
kurzbeschreibung
A merry sleigh ride through a snow-covered winter landscape fills this wood engraving by Winslow Homer, published on January 2, 1869. Made for Harper's Weekly, it belongs to Homer's early years as an illustrator.
Description
A man holds the reins and drives the sleigh, while four women in winter dress sit beside him, wearing fur stoles and hats. Behind them more sleighs, drawn by horses and carrying passengers, move through the landscape as part of the same procession. Close, detailed strokes of the black-and-white print capture the texture of the clothing and the motion of the horses. Snow-laden trees and a clear sky close off the sheet.
Context
During the 1860s Winslow Homer worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines such as Harper's Weekly. This print appeared in the years after the American Civil War, a time when the United States was growing economically and culturally. Winter sleigh rides were then a popular pastime among the upper classes, which accounts for the subject. Published at the start of 1869, the illustration matched the Christmas and New Year tone of that issue.
Impact
Cheerful and festive, the print draws its energy from the sense of movement and the careful rendering of dress. The strong contrasts of the black-and-white engraving give the picture a clear, lively presence that pulls the viewer into the wintry scene.
Technique
A wood engraving is printed in relief: the artist transfers the design to a wood block, an engraver cuts it, and the block is then printed. Homer used fine lines and hatching to bring out light, shadow and texture, as was common for nineteenth-century magazine illustration. The image measures 23 x 34.6 cm, the sheet 27 x 39.6 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)