Watch-Tower, Corner of Spring and Varick Streets (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII)

Watch-Tower, Corner of Spring and Varick Streets (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII) by Winslow Homer, executed in 1874, is a historically significant wood engraving that exemplifies the American artist’s output for illustrated periodicals during the Reconstruction era. As a type of print, this work was designed for mass reproduction, appearing in Volume XVIII of the highly popular magazine, Harper’s Weekly.

The scene captures a prominent structural fixture of 19th-century New York City: an elevated municipal tower situated at the intersection of Spring and Varick Streets. Such towers were essential urban infrastructure, typically serving as observation points for fire watchers before sophisticated electronic warning systems became widespread. Homer focuses on the operational aspect of the structure, depicting men assigned to the task. One figure is likely situated in the elevated cabin, using a telescope or similar viewing instrument to continuously scan the horizon for signs of smoke or other danger.

This particular print highlights Homer’s early career mastery as a graphic reporter, capturing the essential, hardworking components of modern American city life. Homer’s choice to depict the intersection emphasizes the integration of these crucial towers with the flow of daily street activity below. As a piece of documented contemporary history disseminated through mass media, the image offers valuable insight into the visual culture of the period. This highly detailed print, Watch-Tower, Corner of Spring and Varick Streets, is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.