The New Year – 1869 (1868)

Dated 1868, "The New Year – 1869" is an artwork by Winslow Homer. Illustration, a short history: Illustration serves a text or a story, a tradition that runs from decorated medieval manuscripts to printed book plates, magazines, and posters. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are often described as a golden age of book and magazine illustration. Historical background, 1868: Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. The later nineteenth century is the era of Impressionism, whose first group exhibition was held in Paris in 1874, followed by Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and the Arts and Crafts movement. It is listed in the Illustration collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

Everything for "The New Year – 1869" arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

American, 1836–1910

If you like the visual language of Winslow Homer, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.