The Chinese in New York – Scene in a Baxter Street Club-House (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII)

The Chinese in New York – Scene in a Baxter Street Club-House (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII) is a significant work by Winslow Homer, executed in 1874. This detailed wood engraving, classified as a print, was originally published in the influential periodical Harper's Weekly. Homer frequently created illustrations for this magazine, documenting various aspects of American life and society during the Reconstruction Era. This specific image offers a focused glimpse into the burgeoning Chinese immigrant communities settling in New York City in the mid-19th century, specifically highlighting the social and cultural spaces they established.

The scene is an interior view of a club-house located on Baxter Street, an area associated with the development of Manhattan’s Chinatown. Homer depicts several men gathered within the dimly lit space, engrossed in conversation and leisure. The composition focuses intimately on the activities of the subjects; many figures are shown smoking pipes, creating an atmosphere dense with relaxation and human interaction within the close quarters of the interiors. As a piece of journalistic illustration, the wood engraving captures the reality of the daily lives of these immigrants, offering a nuanced perspective often missing from the sensationalized media portrayals of the era. The work effectively utilizes the stark contrasts inherent in the medium to emphasize the features of the men and the specific clutter of the setting.

This important piece serves as both a valuable historical document and an example of Homer’s skill as an illustrator before he dedicated himself predominantly to painting and watercolor. The focus on specific urban subcultures provides crucial context regarding 19th-century New York. Today, this impression of The Chinese in New York – Scene in a Baxter Street Club-House resides in the esteemed prints and photographs collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a key moment in American illustration history and the early career of Homer.