Homeward Bound (New York) 1855 - 1865

"Homeward Bound (New York)" is a lithograph created between 1855 and 1865 by Erskine Nicol (1825-1904) and currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The artwork depicts a man in a blue coat and white trousers standing before a sign advertising a voyage to Dublin on the "Fast Sailing Sarque Washington". The scene is likely set in a bustling port, as evidenced by the glimpse of a ship's mast in the background. Nicol's work captures the era's social and economic realities, particularly the large-scale emigration and immigration that characterized the 19th century. This evocative image offers a glimpse into the hopes and anxieties of individuals seeking a new life in America.