The Picnic Excursion, from Appletons' Journal of Literature, Science, and Art, August 14, 1869
1869
Medium
Graphic Arts-Print
Classification
Graphic Arts-Print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Ray Austrian Collection, gift of Beatrice L. Austrian, Caryl A. Austrian and James A. Austrian
Accession Number
1996.63.136
Tags
Art Historical Context
Winslow Homer's *The Picnic Excursion*, in *Appletons' Journal of Literature, Science, and* on August 14, 1869, captures a joyful moment of 19th-century American leisure This graphic arts print depicts a lively group of figures on a road, complete with a horse-drawn carriage, a playful dog, and picnic-goers enjoying an outing. Rendered in the precise style of wood engraving—a popular medium for illustrated periodicals of the era—Homer's work showcases his mastery of line and composition, bringing dynamic energy to everyday scenes. As a leading figure in American Realism, Homer frequently cont...
About the Artist
Winslow Homer · 1836–1910
Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was one of America's greatest painters and a preeminent figure in 19th-century American art. Largely self-taught, Homer began his career as a commercial illustrator and Civil War correspondent for Harper's Weekly before becoming renowned for his powerful marine subjects and landscape paintings. His mastery of both oil and watercolor, combined with his uncompromising reali...