The Summit of Mount Washington (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XIII) 1869

Winslow Homer created this print, "The Summit of Mount Washington," for Harper's Weekly, using engraving, around 1869. The composition divides the scene into distinct zones, from the rocky foreground where figures on horseback pause, to the distant, cloud-veiled horizon. This division, reinforced by stark contrasts in tone, creates a palpable sense of depth and scale. Homer’s use of engraving as a medium allowed for detailed depictions of texture and light. The figures, rendered with meticulous attention to their clothing and posture, contrast with the more freely rendered, rugged terrain. This juxtaposition highlights a tension between civilization and nature, control and untamed wilderness. The print functions as a semiotic system, where elements like clothing, posture, and landscape become signs pointing to broader cultural values and anxieties. It invites us to consider how visual representation can both reflect and shape perceptions of nature, class, and progress during this period of American expansion and industrialization.