The Wreck of the "Atlantic"—Cast Up by the Sea

The Wreck of the "Atlantic"—Cast Up by the Sea is a powerful wood engraving on paper created by Winslow Homer in 1873. Published in the widely circulated American illustrated magazine Harper's Weekly, this print documents the grim aftermath of the SS Atlantic sinking, one of the worst transatlantic maritime disasters of the 19th century. Homer, a leading American illustrator who often focused on moments of national relevance, captured the profound tragedy and the struggle against the elemental power of the sea, creating a poignant work of reportage.

As a major example of 19th-century American printmaking, the wood engraving technique allowed for rapid reproduction, bringing the immediacy of the disaster to a broad readership across the United States. Homer’s masterful use of line and stark contrast evokes the brutal reality of the scene: scattered wreckage and human figures cast upon the shore. Unlike his later career focused on oil painting, much of Homer’s early fame rests on his prolific contributions to periodicals like Harper's Weekly, where his visual narratives helped define the emerging field of American visual journalism.

This work serves as an important cultural artifact reflecting the era's simultaneous fascination with and fear of the unpredictable ocean. Given its publication history and age, prints like this piece from 1873 are often recognized as part of the public domain, making them widely accessible for study and reference. This historically significant depiction, The Wreck of the "Atlantic"—Cast Up by the Sea, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.