The Russian Ball--In the Supper Room 1863

Winslow Homer made this image, "The Russian Ball--In the Supper Room," using wood engraving. It was printed in Harper's Weekly, a popular magazine of the time. Wood engraving is a relief printing technique. The artist carves an image into the end grain of a block of wood, and the raised areas receive ink, which is then transferred to paper. Looking closely, you can see the dense network of fine lines that create the image's tones and textures. This method allowed for detailed illustrations to be reproduced quickly and distributed widely. Consider the labor involved in both the creation of the artwork and the broader context it depicts. The wood engraver would have required skill and precision to translate Homer's design into a printable image. And what about the figures in the image? Their elaborate dresses and formal attire speak to the upper classes, whose wealth relied on the labor of others. Paying attention to the materials, making, and context of an image like this allows us to look beyond the surface and consider the social and economic forces at play.