Under the Falls, Catskill Mountains (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVI) 1878

Winslow Homer’s “Under the Falls, Catskill Mountains” was made using wood engraving. Here, the artist incised an image into a block of wood, which was then inked and printed onto paper. Consider the labor involved. Homer, or more likely a skilled artisan, would have painstakingly carved the image, using specialized tools to create the intricate lines and textures we see. This process contrasts sharply with the scene depicted: fashionable ladies on leisure, observing the natural landscape. Their presence speaks to the rise of tourism and the commodification of nature during this period. The black and white print flattens the scene, reducing the depth and emphasizing the contrast between light and shadow. This aesthetic, born of the printing process, lends the image a documentary quality, while also hinting at the social divisions that underlay the apparent harmony of nature and society. By understanding the means of production, we gain insight into the broader social and economic context in which the artwork was created and consumed.