Unattributed. "Skating Carnival in Brooklyn, February 10, 1862."

Unattributed. "Skating Carnival in Brooklyn, February 10, 1862." From Harper's Weekly.

New York: February 22, 1862.  16 x 11.  Wood engraving.  Very good condition.

This scene depicts a large skating carnival that took place at Washington Park in Brooklyn, New York. The ice carnival is said to have drawn over 6,000 people and included costumed skaters, a 25 piece live band, fireworks and illuminated ice. The Brooklyn Evening Star reported “The bright sky, the exhilarating atmosphere, and the excellent condition of the ice proved temptations too strong for even discontent to resist, and by sundown the up-cars were thronged with eager crowds of both sexes and nearly all ages, from the toddling ‘3 year old’ to venerable age.”

In its day, Harpers Weekly was one of the best sources for lively, informative images of America and it remains so, today.  Each issue was filled with popular genre and detailed historical prints through which much of the country got its visual information about their world.  Views of American landscapes were among the most popular of prints of the period, and this is a particularly nice example of that genre.