See Saw - Gloucester, Massachusetts

The work See Saw - Gloucester, Massachusetts by Winslow Homer, executed in 1874, is a defining example of 19th-century American genre scenes rendered in the medium of wood engraving. This type of print was essential for mass publication in the United States during the post-Civil War era, allowing Homer to disseminate his observations of American life to a wide audience through illustrated periodicals.

The scene captures a moment of childhood leisure, likely featuring local children engaged in play in the bustling Massachusetts coastal town. Homer frequently documented everyday life, moving beyond idealized depictions to offer realistic views of American society. The stark contrasts inherent to the wood engraving process lend the work a sense of immediate realism and dynamism. Homer’s mastery of illustration is evident in the clear composition and vivid character portrayal, skills he honed while contributing prolifically to leading publications of the era.

Classified as a historical print, this piece demonstrates Homer’s pivotal role in elevating illustration to the level of high art. The work is held in the prestigious collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of the age and widespread distribution of these historical illustrations, high-resolution images of such prints are often considered public domain works, ensuring the continued accessibility of Homer’s contributions to art history in the United States.