Rembrandt Peale

Rembrandt Peale is a significant early wood engraving by Winslow Homer, executed in 1857. This classification of Print was created when Homer was a young artist establishing his reputation primarily as an illustrator in Boston. Wood engraving, the medium chosen for this work, allowed for high-volume reproduction, supporting the rapidly expanding periodical and book publishing industries of the mid-nineteenth century United States. Homer quickly became known for his precise technical skill in translating complex compositions onto the end-grain woodblock, which was then used to create durable, detailed prints for mass circulation.

The subject of this piece, which shares its name with the title, references the esteemed American Neoclassical portraitist Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860). As Homer developed his career specializing in depictions of everyday American life, this earlier work connects him to the preceding generation of influential American artists. Created just before the seismic changes of the Civil War era, this work reflects the active print culture dominating the visual arts landscape of the 1850s.

Homer’s early mastery of illustrative detail demonstrated in this wood engraving laid the foundation for his future success as a highly regarded painter. This essential piece of the artist's early chronology is housed within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving a vital record of the artist's initial technical explorations. Due to its age and historical context, high-quality reproductions of this work are often available through public domain sources, allowing wide access to these important early prints by Homer.