The Coolest Spot in New England – Summit of Mount Washington Homer (from "Harper's Bazar," Vol. III)

The Coolest Spot in New England – Summit of Mount Washington Homer (from "Harper's Bazar," Vol. III) is a striking wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1870. This classification of print work, intended for broad dissemination, was originally published in the popular periodical Harper’s Bazar, signaling Homer's continued engagement with journalistic illustration during the post-Civil War era. The medium of wood engraving required specialized technical skill to capture intricate detail, reflecting the era's reliance on magazine prints for visual information.

The piece captures a quintessential scene of Victorian-era leisure and travel. It depicts the often-windy and stark summit of Mount Washington, the highest peak in New England, a location that had rapidly become a major tourist destination following the development of the cog railway. Homer focuses less on the dramatic landscape and more on the diverse groups of individuals who have made the arduous journey.

The composition highlights the interactions between men and women, who are shown mingling on the exposed rock face. Their layered travel attire indicates the changing fashions and the necessity of specialized clothing for high-altitude excursions. This illustration provides a subtle commentary on the democratizing of American leisure, where the sublime beauty of the White Mountains was now accessible to the urban public. Homer, known for his ability to capture candid human interaction, positions the figures to suggest both the exhilaration of the view and the need for social connection at this isolated locale.

This specific work, demonstrating Homer's early mastery of the wood engraving process, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to its age and original publication within Harper’s Bazar, The Coolest Spot in New England is frequently reproduced and available for study, often found in the public domain as high-quality prints reflecting the original wide circulation.