Christmas Out of Doors 1858

Winslow Homer's "Christmas Out of Doors," was made around the 1850s, and it’s a print, meaning it was likely made through engraving or woodcut, processes of carving an image into a surface and then using ink to transfer that image onto paper. The dense and intricate textures are a direct result of this method of production, where each line had to be carefully cut by hand. Because prints can be reproduced in multiples, they democratized images, taking them out of the realm of unique handmade objects and making them accessible to a wider audience. In this image, we see a contrast between the cozy domesticity of gift-giving indoors, and the labor of those working outside on Christmas Day. In other words, we see both consumerism and labor, which is the real story of Christmas. Paying attention to the material and processes used to make art, whether ‘high’ or ‘low,’ reminds us that all art is connected to wider social and economic realities.