Homeward - Bound 1867

Curator: Winslow Homer designed this illustration, "Homeward-Bound," for Harper's Weekly. The focus on the materials of mass print production allows for broad distribution and consumption of images. Editor: It certainly captures a moment of leisurely travel. The figures seem relaxed, despite the ship’s tilt. Curator: The image appeared in a widely circulated periodical, shaping public perception of travel and leisure in the late 19th century, especially the role of transatlantic voyages in commerce and tourism. Editor: Exactly. How these scenes were portrayed in popular media influenced who could imagine themselves in these spaces and, crucially, who was excluded. Did it reflect reality, or set an aspirational stage? Curator: It is about both, isn't it? Mass production and the material processes involved always create their own social conditions and narratives. Editor: I think considering how the image participated in constructing notions of class and access is crucial. We need to think about art's influence on its audience, and its historical legacy.