What movement is The "Cold Term," Boston - Scene, Corner Milk and Washington Streets?

The "Cold Term," Boston - Scene, Corner Milk and Washington Streets is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The "Cold Term," Boston - Scene, Corner Milk and Washington Streets

The "Cold Term," Boston - Scene, Corner Milk and Washington Streets is a print by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1942.1353
Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

About this work

Overview

Winslow Homer’s 1858 print titled The “Cold Term,” Boston – Scene, Corner Milk and Washington Streets captures a wintry urban tableau.

Winslow Homer’s 1858 print titled The “Cold Term,” Boston – Scene, Corner Milk and Washington Streets captures a wintry urban tableau. The composition centers on a busy intersection where pedestrians, a dog, and a storefront bearing the sign “Widdifield & Co Currier & Trott Widdifield” occupy the snowy sidewalk. The work reflects Homer’s early interest in documenting everyday American city life before he fully embraced oil and watercolor.

Subject & Meaning

The image records a typical mid‑nineteenth‑century Boston street during a cold season, emphasizing ordinary activity: residents bundled in winter attire converse, stroll, and pause near the shop. The presence of the dog and the detailed shop sign ground the scene in a specific commercial locale, offering a glimpse into the rhythms of daily commerce and social interaction in the city’s public space.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, the work relies on strong contrasts of light and dark to model forms, a precursor to Homer’s later chiaroscuro experiments. The crisp delineation of figures against the muted, snow‑covered ground creates depth, while the linear rendering of the storefront’s lettering adds a documentary quality typical of his early illustrative practice.

History & Provenance

Created during Homer’s formative years as a commercial illustrator, the print predates his celebrated marine and rural paintings. It was produced in 1858, a period when the artist was transitioning from magazine work to fine art. The piece has circulated among collections of 19th‑century American prints, illustrating his early engagement with urban subject matter.