A Snow Slide in the City

A Snow Slide in the City is a remarkable early work by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910), created in 1860 and published as a high-quality wood engraving on paper by the influential periodical Harper's Weekly. This print showcases the artist’s developing skill in graphic illustration, a crucial foundation for his career before he shifted primarily to painting. Homer frequently contributed illustrations documenting the daily life and social customs of the United States in the mid-19th century.

As a wood engraving, the medium required skillful carving to create the intricate network of lines necessary for high-speed publication and mass distribution. The image captures a lively winter scene, characteristic of the urban genre illustrations popular during the period. Homer focuses on the energy and candid enjoyment of city children utilizing a steep embankment to race down a snow-covered hill, highlighting his sharp eye for everyday American behavior and movement. These published prints offered the primary access point for the general public to view contemporary art and journalistic documentation.

This piece demonstrates the transition of artistic output from the burgeoning field of magazine illustration into fine art prints. Created shortly before the Civil War began, the work offers valuable insight into pre-war American urban leisure activities and served as a prototype for the narrative realism that would define Homer’s mature career. Due to its age and historical classification, the original artwork is considered part of the public domain. This important historical print is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.