The Summit of Mount Washington 1869

Editor: Here we have Winslow Homer's "The Summit of Mount Washington" from 1869. It looks to be a print, maybe a wood engraving? It gives an interesting glimpse into leisure and travel during that period. The figures seem quite small against the rocky landscape, making me wonder, what sort of statement is Homer trying to make here? Curator: Indeed. Notice how Homer uses the sharp lines of the engraving to convey the rugged terrain. These visual choices shape how we perceive not just a landscape, but also an experience. Think of the mountain itself as a symbol - a challenge, a journey, even a pilgrimage. Who are these figures and what journey are they taking? What stories do their clothes and posture convey to a contemporary viewer versus a modern one? Editor: I see what you mean. Their attire does suggest a deliberate journey or experience of nature, but they also feel very separate from it, perhaps more observant than integrated into the mountain. Curator: Precisely. Now consider Mount Washington's place in the collective memory of that era. What did reaching its summit signify? Consider the interplay of wild nature versus civilization, the allure of untouched places versus the growing influence of industrialization. The figures’ ability to make the journey is linked to class and leisure, further imbued by the journey's very location as a destination. The mountain, therefore, functions as more than just a natural feature, don’t you agree? Editor: Yes, now I see how this work embodies both physical and cultural ascent. It's fascinating how Homer uses something as seemingly simple as a mountain to signify so much more. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Considering art through the lens of symbolic language helps us realize its cultural impact through a close reading of the visual.