The Bathe at Newport (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. II)
Original title: The Bathe at Newport (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. II)
kurzbeschreibung
Bathers in the sea off Newport, Rhode Island: Winslow Homer's 1858 wood engraving captures a summer beach scene. The print appeared in Harper's Weekly on September 4, 1858, and is entirely in black and white.
Description
A group of bathers spreads across the water: some swim, others sit or float at the surface. Behind them, buildings and tents serve as bathing houses or lodgings. On the shore, onlookers stand and watch the activity. Sailboats and birds enliven the background. The horizontal layout draws the eye to the goings-on between beach and water.
Context
Harper's Weekly was among the leading illustrated magazines of its day. In the 1850s, Winslow Homer worked as a freelance illustrator for the publication before making his name as a painter. Newport was a favored summer retreat for America's upper class in the mid-19th century. The subject takes up an everyday leisure activity that interested the audience of the time.
Impact
Lively and cheerful, the scene of summer pleasure feels immediate. The clear linework and the variety of figures invite a closer look. The black-and-white technique gives the print a documentary clarity characteristic of newspaper illustrations of those years.
Technique
As a wood engraving—a relief process—the image was cut into a woodblock and then printed. This method allowed fine lines and details to be reproduced, suitable for publication in newspapers. The image measures 9 1/4 x 13 3/4 inches (23.5 x 34.9 cm).
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)