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Winslow Homer's "Cutting A Figure" Skating: A 19th C. Woodcut Engraving

Creator: Winslow Homer (Attributed)
Offered by: Timeless Intaglio – Rare Prints, Maps & Books

Description
This Winslow Homer woodcut engraving entitled "Skating on the Ladies' Skating-Pond in Central Park, New York", was published in Every Saturday magazine in the February 24, 1871 edition. It depicts an attractive, stylish, well-dressed young woman skating on a large frozen pond or lake. The title "Cutting a Figure" refers to both her style of dress and to her literally cutting a pattern in the ice with her skates. The cold wintery day is beautifully recreated by Homer in this scene. The reflection of a tree on the ice on the left resembles the posture of the skater. Additional skaters are seen in the background on the left. Homer's signature appears in the plate in the lower left.

Skating was rapidly rising in national popularity at this time in part due to the opening of Central Park’s Ladies' Skating-Pond to skaters on a Sunday in December 1858 with 300 participants. The following Sunday it attracted ten thousand skaters. By Christmas Day, a reported 50,000 people came to the park, most of them to skate.

The New York Times in an article in 2009 on Winslow Homer and his work entitled "Portraits of a Simpler, Gentler Time" mentions this work: “Cutting a Figure” (1871) shows a young woman in full dress skating across the glassy surface of a frozen pond, her head turned back to look at a lover or friend. It is a lovely, elegant image. But it is also devilishly intricate; note, for instance, the way the shadows of surrounding trees and even passing clouds in the sky above are reflected in the frozen surface of the pond. This print is exquisite."

This beautiful Homer woodcut engraving is presented in a brown wood frame and a light cream-colored mat. The frame measures 20.5" high x 27.5" wide. There is a central vertical fold, as issued. The print is in excellent condition. All framing materials are archival and the piece is glazed with UV protected TruVue glass.

There is another Homer woodcut skating engraving in an identical style frame and mat (although slightly larger) that is listed on 1stdibs, entitled "Skating on the Ladies' Skating-Pond in Central Park, New York". It depicts many skaters in Central Park, New York, while the park was still under construction. See LU117329316422. These would make a wonderful display grouping. A discount is available for the purchase of these two prints.

This Winslow Homer engraving is held by many museums, including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Smithsonian Museum's National Gallery of Art, The Chicago Art Institute, The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, The Yale University Art Gallery, The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke and many more.

Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was an American landscape painter, printmaker and publication illustrator. He is considered one of the most important American artists of the 19th-century. Largely self-taught Homer initially worked as an illustrator for various publications, including: Harper's Weekly, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Every Saturday magazine and Ballou's Pictorial Magazine. He worked for Harper's during the Civil War, producing woodcut engravings depicting the personal experiences of soldiers. He later became a master of oil and watercolor painting, often focussing on maritime themes.

More Information

Period:	18th Century
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	1871
Styles / Movements:	Other
Incollect Reference #:	573238

Dimensions

W.	27.5 in;	H.	20.5 in;	D.	1.13 in;
W.	69.85 cm;	H.	52.07 cm;	D.	2.87 cm;

Message from Seller:

Timeless Intaglio is an online gallery of rare and collectable antiquarian prints, maps and books. Although we specialize in all forms of vintage printed works on paper, the majority were created with the intaglio method of transferring ink from a plate, usually copper, to paper with a technique utilizing pressure generated by a press. Email us directly: rbreiman@timelessintaglio.com