| Title: |
A Bivouac Fire on The Potomac, American Civil War (Harper's Weekly, New York, A Journal of Civilization) |
| Artist: |
Homer, Winslow (Boston, 1836 - Scarboro, Maine, 1910) |
| Date: |
December 21, 1861 |
| Medium: |
Original Wood Engraving |
| Publisher: |
Harper & Brothers, New York |
| Publication: |
Harper's Weekly, New York |
| Note: |
Winslow Homer: There is no doubt that as both a painter and as a graphic designer, Winslow Homer's position as one of America's greatest artists is secure. Essentially self-taught, Homer was apprenticed to the Boston lithographic firm of John H. Bufford at the age of nineteen. There, he produced mostly lithographic covers for sheet music. His first designed wood engraving appeared in a Boston periodical in 1857. Later that year, Winslow Homer contributed his first of many designs to Harper's Weekly of New York. A year later he moved to that city to continue his work in this field. It was with his wood engravings that the world was first introduced to Homer's unique talents. Until 1874, Winslow Homer supported himself largely with his designed wood engravings and they were crucial to the development of his future paintings and prints. This original wood engraving entitled, "A Bivouac Fire on The Potomac" is one of his most famous scenes depicting the American Civil War. |
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Winslow Homer drew inspiration for his art from a number of sources. The graphic patterns and lines of the Japanese woodcut are most frequently referred to. As well, the art of the French Impressionists played a contributing role. However, the draftsmanship he acquired as a major designer of wood engravings is the key to understanding all his fine art. Throughout his famous career his style retained this basic graphic character; even his last paintings were built upon this foundation. |
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Harper & Brothers: A leading American publishing and printing firm based in New York, 'Harper & Brothers' was originally founded by James Harper (1795-1869) and his brother, John Harper (1797-1875), when they opened their first printing firm as 'J. & J.' in 1817. Later, their two younger brothers, Joseph Wesley Harper (1801-1870), and Fletcher Harper (1806-1877), joined the firm. During the following years, their printing firm flourished. In 1833, 'J. & J.' was renamed as 'Harper & Brothers', and under that name, their firm entered into the publishing business. Harper & Brothers was among the first printing and publishing firms to adopt case binding and to use stereotype and electrotype printing plates and steam - powered printing. It has been noted that by the mid 19th century, 'Harper & Brothers' had become one of the largest printing and publishing firms in the world. |
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Harper & Brothers Periodicals, Journals & Magazines: During the second half of the nineteenth century, periodicals, journals and magazines such as 'Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper', 'Every Saturday', 'The Aldine' in the United States, and 'The Illustrated London News', 'The Illustrated London Almanack', and 'The Graphic', in England, created pictorial journalism on a grand scale. They covered, literature, arts, sciences, sports, social and political events, fashion, and fiction. Wood engraving (invented around 1780) at last made it possible for publishers to print images and words on the same page without the extravagant costs of producing etchings or engravings from metal plates. From about 1850 engraving upon wood became the dominant means of distributing information along with pictorial imagery, and continued in this role until around 1900, when the practical application of photography took control. In addition to being one of the most prestigious printing and publishing firms for books and printed matter commissioned by both national and international firms, 'Harper & Brothers' decided to enter the 'Big Race' for journalistic supremacy. They began to issue their own illustrated periodicals, starting with the launch of their first magazine, originally known as 'Harper's New Monthly Magazine', later known as 'Harper's Magazine'. This publication was first issued in (1850) and continued to do so into the twenty first century. 'Harper's Magazine' is now published by HarperCollins Publishers LLC. It was originally established as a literary and educational monthly magazine dealing with politics, culture, arts and finance. As their circulation increased it was followed by 'Harper's Weekly (A Journal of Civilization)' (1857-1916), an illustrated and interesting higher toned, better illustrated paper featuring political issues, domestic and foreign news, literary fiction and other stories. A Bivouac Fire on The Potomac (American Civil War), is an original wood engraving designed by the famous American artist, Winslow Homer in 1861 for 'Harper's Weekly'. In 1867, Harper & Brothers launched their first issue of 'Harper's Bazar', a magazine that is still active today, and is now published by the Hearst Corporation. 'Harper's Bazar', started out as a weekly periodical (magazine), mostly for feminine interests and culture. It was devoted to various departments of literature, fashion and domestic arts and as noted in their 1886 issue "A Repository of Fashion, Pleasures, and instruction". 'Harper & Brothers' offered a subscription to all three publications for only 10.00 dollars a year or any two for 7.00 dollars, and special offers for group subscriptions. They also sold 'Popular Editions' at a higher price and' Household Editions' at a lower price. In 1878, the Franklin Square Library was formed and then renamed 'Harper's Franklin Square Library' in 1881, remaining active until 1893. 'Harper & Brothers' was among of the first to publish a selection of books to help confront and regulate the piracy of their material by rogue printers and publishers. Those books were published under the Harper Franklin Square Library imprint at a loss and were available through subscriptions offered to businesses (Booksellers). In 1879 they began the weekly publication of 'Harper's Young People', an illustrated magazine aimed at America's boys and girls of all ages. The publication contained both instructional and entertaining topics which included a variety of well written stories, poetry, serials, games, and other areas of interest written and illustrated by noted authors and artists. In 1895, 'Harper's Young People' was renamed as 'Harper's Round Table', another well written and illustrated weekly magazine for America's youth, but this one was aimed at an older generation of kids (teenaged boys), priced at five cents a copy or two dollars a year. The last issue of 'Harper's Round Table' was published in 1899. |
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Harper & Brothers Illustrators: The firm of Harper & Brothers, New York hired some of the finest engravers, illustrators and journalists of the period. Throughout the life of this firm, skilled artists maintained a very high level of craftsmanship in their illustrative art, thus, for well over one hundred years, these original engravings have attracted serious collectors who recognize both the historic and artistic value of these images. In fact, one of the first avid collectors of these engravings was Vincent Van Gogh, who, for several years, entertained thoughts of working as an illustrative artist for these publications. American illustrators who contributed works to 'Harper & Brothers' included such distinguished painters and watercolor artists as, Frederick Stuart Church (1842-1924), who began his career as an illustrator for Harper's designing graceful fantasy scenes, many dealing with women, children and animals. Walter Sheila (1838-1909), and Stephen G. McCutcheon, (c. 1846 - 1884) illustrated articles and fiction to such magazines as as Harper's, Scribner's, St. Nicholas and The Century. William Ludwell Sheppard, 'W. L. Sheppard' (1833-1912), is recorded to have illustrated the Southern side of the American Civil War, contributing many of those designs to Harper's and Picturesque America. Winslow Homer (1836-1910), contributed his first of many designs to Harper's Weekly of New York in 1857. Homer's role as a pictorial journalist during the American Civil War is of significant historical importance. A Bivouac Fire on The Potomac is a fine, original example of Homer's American Civil War art and of the wood engravings he designed for Harper's Weekly. The artist, Frederick Dielman (1847-1935), contributed such works as the Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia by the Colored People in Washington, Harper's Weekly (1866), and Mirandy Encourages Phil's Talent, Harper's Bazaar (1886). America's political cartoonist, Thomas Nast (1840-1902), began his legendary association with Harper's in 1857, just in time for the outbreak of the American Civil War. His satire was most often aimed at abuses and criminal activity that dealt with 'African-American Rights, White Racism', and 'Political Corruption'. Nast's famous illustration entitled, Merry Old Santa Claus (1881), which appeared in Harper's Weekly is responsible for the modern day image of Santa. During the last part of the nineteenth century and the first quarter of the 20th century another important group of young artists began to appear, such as, Arthur Burdett Frost (1851-1928), an American artist mostly known for his sporting subjects. Frost contributed many illustrations to Harper & Brothers periodicals, such as, An Archery Meeting, Harper's Weekly (1879), Woodcock Shooting, Harper's Weekly (1893), The Sparrow's Christmas Dinner Harper's Bazar (1886), etc. William James Aylward (1875-1956), began his career as an illustrator for both Harper's and Scribner's magazines, creating such as The Christmas-Tree Ship, Harper's Weekly, (1909), The Secret Sharer, Harper's Magazine (1910), Steamboating Through Dixie written and illustrated for Harper's Monthly (1915). And, Harry Everett Townsend (1879-1941) established a strong reputation as a leading illustrator and was regularly commissioned by such popular magazines as Harper's, The Century and McClure's. By 1962, the firm of 'Harper & Brothers' merged with Row, Peterson and Company' and was renamed as 'Harper & Row'. The firm of 'Harper & Row' continued to run under that name until 1990, when it was acquired by William Collins & Sons and renamed as 'HarperCollins'. Today, the firm of HarperCollins remains one of the largest publishing companies in the world. |
| Raisonne: |
Lloyd Goodrich, The Graphic Art of Winslow Homer, The Museum of Graphic Art & the Smithsonian Institution Press, New York, 1968. A Bivouac Fire on the Potomac (Catalogue #39) is illustrated on plate 11 |
| Size: |
14 1/2 X 20 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.) |
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Matted with 100% Archival Materials |
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View larger Matted Image |
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| Condition: |
Printed upon mid nineteenth century wove paper and with
full margins as published by Harper & Brothers, New York for their periodical, Harper's Weekly (Journal of Civilization), on the above date. Signed by Homer
in the block to the lower left. Containing the double-page, fold-out crease,
as usual. Also there is slight scuffing and thinning towards the upper
right margin; else a strongly printed impression and in excellent condition
throughout. This original wood engraving entitled, A Bivouac Fire
on The Potomac represents a famous and scarce example of the Civil War art of Winslow Homer. |
| Subject: |
Winslow Homer, A Bivouac Fire on The Potomac, Harper & Brothers, New York for their periodical, Harper's Weekly (Journal of Civilization), original wood engraving, Civil War art. |
| Price: |
Sold - The price is no longer available. |
| Important Information: |
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