The Coolest Spot in New England – Summit of Mount Washington Homer (from "Harper's Bazar," Vol. III) 1870

Winslow Homer created this print, “The Coolest Spot in New England – Summit of Mount Washington,” for *Harper's Bazar* at a time when leisure and tourism were increasingly accessible to the middle class. Here, Homer captures a group of elegantly dressed tourists on the summit, a scene indicative of post-Civil War America where social hierarchies were subtly reinforced even in seemingly democratic spaces. Note how the women's elaborate dresses and parasols contrast with the rugged, natural environment, highlighting the performative aspect of leisure for the upper class. The men, in their tailored suits, also reflect the era’s emphasis on respectability and status. Homer’s choice to depict this particular scene reflects a broader cultural narrative about the American landscape as a space for both recreation and social display. The artist subtly critiques the artificiality of this cultivated leisure by placing it against the raw, untamed backdrop of Mount Washington. He invites us to consider the ways in which identity and social class are constructed and performed, even—or perhaps especially—in the great outdoors.