A Picnic By Land

A Picnic By Land is an early wood engraving created by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) and published in the influential periodical Harper’s Weekly in 1858. This print exemplifies Homer’s foundational career as a commercial illustrator, capturing scenes of everyday life in the rapidly changing United States. The technique of wood engraving on paper allowed for high-volume reproduction, making such images accessible to a vast American audience during the mid-nineteenth century.

Dating to the pre-Civil War era, this work provides valuable insight into American leisure culture. Homer frequently documented genre scenes, moving beyond simple reportage to imbue his images with character and narrative complexity. The piece showcases Homer’s developing skill in composition and draftsmanship, demonstrating his ability to master the constraints of the print medium by using dense cross-hatching to define shadow and form.

The original purpose of such illustrations was often ephemeral, yet they are crucial documents of American history and art. Though lacking the dramatic intensity of his later oil paintings, A Picnic By Land cemented Homer’s reputation as an astute observer of the contemporary scene. This rare example of an early Homer print is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the work is now in the public domain, high-resolution scans and prints are frequently referenced by scholars studying the evolution of 19th-century American illustration.