Theodore Parker 1858

This is Winslow Homer's rendering of Theodore Parker, made around 1856. The image is printed on paper, likely for distribution in a periodical. Look closely at the lines that create the image. This is a wood engraving, a relief printing technique, where the artist carves an image into the end grain of a block of wood. The process is laborious. The artist would have used specialized tools to remove the non-image areas, leaving a raised surface to hold ink. This was then pressed onto paper to create the print. Wood engraving was a common method for mass-producing images in the 19th century, a key part of the era's booming print culture. The precision of line in Homer’s image speaks to the skill involved, and the way in which a readily available image could disseminate the likeness of a prominent abolitionist. Consider how this detailed, handmade process facilitated the rapid spread of information and ideas, blurring the lines between art, craft, and social activism.