A Country Store – Getting Weighed (Every Saturday, Vol. II, New Series)

A Country Store – Getting Weighed (Every Saturday, Vol. II, New Series) is a significant wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1871. As a prolific printmaker and illustrator during this period, Homer used the medium to document scenes of everyday 19th-century American life for mass consumption in periodicals. The work demonstrates his sharp observational skills, focusing on the commonplace activities that defined post-Civil War community life.

The composition captures a lively interior scene, centered around the action referenced in the title: "Getting Weighed." Numerous men and women are gathered inside the establishment, a vital hub for both commerce and social interaction. Homer carefully arranges the figures around a large floor scale, emphasizing the communal atmosphere as various individuals await their turn or simply observe the proceedings. The subject matter is rich in detail, showcasing the varied attire and engaged expressions of the diverse community members. Homer employs the dramatic contrasts inherent in the wood engraving technique to give definition and texture to the figures and the cluttered environment of the store.

As one of Homer’s defining journalistic prints, this piece serves as an important visual document of American leisure and the local economy during the era. The work is classified as a print and highlights the artist’s mastery of graphic media before his focus shifted primarily to oil painting and watercolor. This important historic print is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains accessible, often available through public domain initiatives, providing researchers and art lovers key insights into Homer’s illustrative career.