Skating at Boston (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. III) 1859

Winslow Homer’s "Skating at Boston" was made for "Harper's Weekly," using wood engraving. This was a common method for mass-producing images in the 19th century. The process begins with a design transferred onto a block of wood, usually boxwood, known for its fine grain. A skilled engraver then carves away the areas that should not print, leaving the image in relief. The block is inked and pressed against paper to produce a print, and the image can then be reproduced many times. Consider the labor involved; from the lumberjack harvesting the wood, to the artisan preparing the block, to Homer creating the original drawing, to the engraver who translated it into a printable form, and finally the press operators. The image itself depicts a leisure activity of Boston’s middle and upper class, a stark contrast to the many unseen hands that made its production possible. Paying attention to the material and processes of production allows us to see the social context in which it was made, beyond the surface of the image itself.