St. Valentine's Day – The Old Story in All Lands (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XII)

St. Valentine's Day – The Old Story in All Lands (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XII) is a significant 1868 work by American artist Winslow Homer. Executed as a wood engraving, this print was commissioned for the widely circulated illustrated periodical Harper's Weekly, demonstrating Homer's prolific output as a graphic illustrator during the mid-19th century. The work documents the prevailing cultural customs associated with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day, focusing on the various humorous and romantic exchanges common between men and women during the holiday.

Homer utilizes the high-contrast limitations of the wood engraving technique effectively, creating detailed scenes through sharp, economical lines. The composition is structured as a series of small vignettes that capture different types of interaction, from clandestine card delivery to public displays of affection and flirtation. This focus on domestic and social subject matter was characteristic of Homer’s work at the time, providing a keen visual observation of contemporary American life. The piece serves both as popular entertainment for the magazine's readership and as a record of post-Civil War social rituals.

As a leading American illustrator, Homer’s prints from this era are essential for tracing his artistic trajectory before he focused primarily on oil painting. The detailed depiction of figures and fashionable attire highlights the artist's emerging skills in figural representation. This historically important wood engraving, representing a key moment in American illustration history, is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its availability as a well-known print contributes to its continued study and appreciation today.