The Sleighing Season--The Upset 1860

Winslow Homer created this wood engraving, “The Sleighing Season--The Upset,” for *Harper’s Weekly* in the 19th century. Engravings like this were the newspapers and magazines of their day, carrying news and entertainment across the country. To make this image, Homer likely created a detailed drawing, which was then painstakingly translated into a series of lines on a block of wood. This required an immense skill set. Using specialized tools, the engraver would carve away the negative space, leaving only the lines that would ultimately hold ink. The block could then be used to make many prints. The process was labor-intensive, but it allowed images to be reproduced quickly and widely, fueling the growth of mass media and a visual culture. Homer's image captures a moment of chaos and perhaps a commentary on the leisure activities of the upper class, making a direct connection between artistry and social commentary.