Bookplate for H. W. Bryant of Portland Maine

The Bookplate for H. W. Bryant of Portland Maine is a distinctive lithograph created by Winslow Homer in 1893. This fine print was commissioned as an ex libris design for H. W. Bryant, directly linking the artwork to Portland, Maine, a location intimately connected to Homer’s artistic life and maritime subjects. Executed late in the artist’s prolific career, the piece is a rare example of Homer’s venture into intimate graphic design, contrasting with the large oil paintings he was producing during this period.

The composition utilizes strong maritime imagery suitable for a collector based in a coastal city. The design focuses on a pair of mythic mermaids entwined within the decorative framework, suggesting themes of exploration, deep-sea lore, and the vastness of the ocean often found in literature and seafaring traditions. As a lithograph, the work demonstrates Homer’s skill in exploiting the medium's capacity for subtle shading and detailed line work, providing a delicate touch appropriate for a small, personalized print.

Homer’s involvement in creating such commercial prints was uncommon, making this surviving example significant within his graphic output. Although primarily recognized for his powerful depictions of the sea and rugged rural life, this work highlights the artist’s exceptional versatility in both scale and subject matter.

This unique piece resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), serving as an important document of American graphic arts from the late 19th century. As many of Homer's works, including his prints, are now considered public domain assets, these historically valuable bookplates and other prints remain widely accessible for public study and art historical appreciation.