Christmas Belles

The print Christmas Belles, created by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) in 1869, is a significant example of the artist's prolific illustrative career for major periodicals. This wood engraving on paper was published by Harper’s Weekly, the highly influential American journal that played a critical role in shaping visual culture in the United States throughout the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Homer’s contributions to such publications were crucial during the Reconstruction era, helping to define scenes of contemporary life for a national audience.

The selection of the wood engraving medium was strategic, utilizing the end grain of the block to achieve the required detail and allowing for the high-volume mechanical reproduction necessary for weekly circulation. Homer expertly translated his drawing skills into the restrictive black-and-white medium, capturing fashionable figures and holiday themes that resonated with the journal’s readership. This piece, with its focus on celebratory genre subject matter, provides valuable insight into the social customs of the post-Civil War period.

This important example of 19th-century American prints resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As with many published works from this era, the work demonstrates the complex relationship between popular media and the development of fine art. Today, high-resolution reproductions are often available through public domain sources, allowing wide access to Homer’s considerable output as an illustrator and painter.