The Wreck of the "Atlantic" - Cast up by the Sea

Currently not on view

The Wreck of the "Atlantic" - Cast up by the Sea

1873

After Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910) Published by Harper's Weekly, New York

Homer did not witness the wreck of the Atlantic, but he composed an image that accompanied the horrified and outraged account of the disaster in Harper’s Weekly. A fisherman’s tragic discovery of a beautiful woman washed up on the beach, frozen in the posture she had adopted in the rigging of the doomed ship, made a picture that would have haunted all viewers. The morbid, pathetic, and erotic appeal of the drowned maiden mutely reflected the irresponsibility of the steamship line and the dismal absence of effective lifesaving strategies, both on board and on shore.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

The Wreck of the "Atlantic" - Cast up by the Sea
Illustration from Harper's Weekly (April 26, 1873)

Date:

1873

Artists:

After Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910) Published by Harper's Weekly, New York

Medium:

Wood engraving

Dimensions:

Image: 9 1/8 x 13 7/8 inches (23.2 x 35.2 cm)

Classification:

Prints

Credit Line:

Purchased with the Lola Downin Peck Fund from the Carl and Laura Zigrosser Collection, 1965

Accession Number:

1965-95-84

Geography:

Published in New York, New York, United States, North and Central America

We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.

Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.

Currently not on view