1860-1870

The work titled 1860-1870 is a compelling wood engraving on paper created by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) and published around 1870 by the influential periodical Harper's Weekly. This print is emblematic of Homer’s extensive early career as an illustrator, a role that defined much of his output during the post-Civil War era in the United States. Wood engraving, a relief process, allowed for the rapid production of images suitable for mass circulation in weekly periodicals. Homer’s compositions, translated onto the end-grain of a woodblock by highly skilled engravers, provided the American public with visual documentation of contemporary life and societal trends.

As a staff illustrator for the highly influential Harper’s Weekly (American, 1857-1916), Homer helped shape the visual narrative of the nation during a period of intense cultural transition. Unlike his later, more introspective oil paintings and watercolors, these commercial prints were designed to be immediate and accessible. The precise technique required to execute the detailed lines in wood engraving demonstrates the high level of graphic mastery attained by the period’s illustrators. The volume and accessibility of these illustrations cemented Homer's early reputation.

The classification of this piece as a print highlights its origin as a reproducible image intended for broad distribution throughout the culture of the United States. Because of its age and historical context, this work now falls into the public domain, making high-quality reference prints widely available for study. This historically significant example of 19th-century American graphic arts is preserved in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.