The Summit of Mount Washington

"The Summit of Mount Washington" by Winslow Homer, created in 1869, is a significant example of 19th-century American printmaking. This work utilized the exacting technique of wood engraving, a medium commonly employed by the artist to create illustrations for popular weekly and monthly publications. The nature of the wood engraving allowed for detailed line work and rapid mass reproduction, ensuring that Homer’s visual interpretations of American life and landscape reached a broad audience.

During the post-Civil War era, depictions of dramatic and remote scenery held immense appeal for the United States public, reflecting a growing national interest in tourism and the sublime qualities of the native wilderness. Homer captures the rugged, often harsh environment of the highest peak in the Northeastern United States. He focuses not only on the vast expanse of the landscape but also on the small, determined figures navigating the summit, conveying the difficulty and achievement inherent in scaling the mountain.

Although originally intended for wide commercial distribution as mass-produced prints, works such as this demonstrate Homer’s mastery of composition and graphic detail. This specific impression of The Summit of Mount Washington is held in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of its age and historical context, many original prints of this era are considered part of the public domain, ensuring their continued accessibility for study and appreciation by art historians and the general public.