1858
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left] is a 1858 ink by American 19th Century, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows four busy scenes from a Thanksgiving celebration. The top left picture has people hunting and preparing food outside, with turkeys on the ground and a tepee in the background. The top right shows a crowded dining room where everyone is eating at long tables. The bottom left has a group arriving home by sleigh, while the bottom right depicts a lively dance with people twirling and chatting. One odd detail is the tepee in the hunting scene—it’s not something you’d expect at a Thanksgiving meal. The artist used simple black lines to create depth and movement, which was common in wood engravings at the time. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this one made detailed prints without paint.
This artist painted everyday American life in the 1800s. Look at *Farmhouse in Mahantango Valley*—a quiet, sunlit scene of rural Pennsylvania. *Boy and Girl* shows two children standing close, their faces turned toward…
See the richer artist page
