Homer, Winslow “The Robin's Note”

Winslow Homer. “The Robin's Note.”  Boston: Every Saturday, August 20,1870. 9 3/8 x 9 1/8.  Wood engraving.  Very good condition.  Beam: 180.  

Beginning around the middle of the nineteenth century, in England and then America, illustrated weekly newspapers made their appearance. These folio sized papers covered current events of local, national and international import, printed fiction and poetry by prominent authors, recounted gossip of note, described popular tourist sites, and generally were filled with stories on any subject that might be of interest to the reading public of the second half of the nineteenth century. The true source of the popularity of these newspapers, however, were the manifold wood-engraved prints which graced almost every page of the issues.

These pictures provide us today with one of the best sources for lively and informative images of the period.  With photographs in a primitive stage, and no television, it is through these illustrations that the public got its visual information about the events, personalities and places of the time. These illustrations are also one of the few sources we have today for these same things. The engravings were based on drawings by staff illustrators and also by some of the most prominent artists of the day, including Winslow Homer, Thomas Nast, Frederic Remington, and A.B. Frost. While originally issued in large numbers, few have survived the ages in good condition. Every Saturday was a Boston based weekly, which began its run in 1870. It included many genre subjects, portraits and other fascinating images of nineteenth century America and Europe. These are interesting, historical and very collectable prints.