Collage of printed elements centered on Women, Children, Family and Rural Life
1862–63
Medium
Steel engravings, trimmed and collaged
Dimensions
Sheet: 16 7/8 in. × 23 in. (42.8 × 58.4 cm)
Classification
Cut Paper|Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008
Accession Number
2018.839.171
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the heart of the American Civil War era, the Illman Brothers—prominent New York engravers for their meticulous steel engravings—created this evocative *Collage of printed elements on Women, Children, and Rural Life* around 1862–63. Measuring 16⅞ × 23 inches, this mixed-media work transforms finely detailed steel engravings into a harmonious composition through trimming and collaging, a technique blending printmaking precision with the playful artistry of cut paper. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (bequest of Herbert Mitchell, 2008), it exemplifies 1...
About the Artist
Illman Brothers · 1800–1900
The Illman Brothers—Edward, George, Henry, and William—formed a renowned engraving and printing firm in Philadelphia, active from the mid-19th century through the early 20th, with operations spanning roughly 1860 to 1907. Founded by their English-born father, Thomas Illman, the business began as Illman & Sons around 1840 before evolving into the brothers' collaborative enterprise after his death. ...