after Winslow Homer. (New York Watch Tower) New York: Harper's Weekly, 1874. $235.00

This wonderful view is a composition of the activities within the watchtower. At top a watchman looks into the distance through a spyglass. Other images include an exterior view of the watch tower, a watchman climbing up the stairs past an enormous alarm bell, the mechanism for ringing the nine o'clock bell, and the scene of a fair.

In the 19th century, before photography became commonplace, newspapers and periodicals were illustrated with wood engravings. Many of the best artists of the day earned their bread and butter creating the original designs for these prints and which were then engraved by equally talented engravers. These minutely detailed original prints provide fascinating glimpses into the daily life of the period depicting people from all walks of life and in every social stratum.  This wood engraving is based upon the work of the great American artist, Winslow Homer. His wood engravings are among the most highly collected and most valuable published by Harper’s Weekly.

16 x 11 inches.
Wood engraving.
Excellent condition.