Artwork
Winter, the Fox Hunt
Winter, the Fox Hunt is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henry Wolf. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:"Henry Wolf" lower right margin, graphite, artist's hand. Not dated. "mk 28025" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand. "#49684" lower right margin, graphite, unknown hand. Verso: none.
- Markings
- Marked:"LRJ" verso, black stamped ink.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1893, Winter, the Fox Hunt is a wood engraving executed on laid paper. The French‑born artist Henry Wolf, who settled in New York after 1871, rendered a wintry landscape centered on a fox in mid‑leap, surrounded by barren trees and a pale sky. The image is composed entirely of carved lines, producing a range of tones without any pigment.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures a moment of a fox hunt in deep winter, the animal frozen in a dynamic leap across snow‑covered ground. The stark, leafless forest and muted sky emphasize the cold atmosphere, while the fox’s detailed fur and poised motion suggest both the vitality of the chase and the quiet of the season.
Technique & Style
Wolf employed the traditional wood‑engraving process, incising fine, precise lines into a hard wood block that was then inked and pressed onto laid paper. The resulting tonal gradations arise from the density of the lines, creating subtle shadows and texture. This meticulous approach reflects the tonal precision for which Wolf’s prints are known.
History & Provenance
Trained under Jacques Levy in Strasbourg, Wolf moved to the United States in 1871 and built a career reproducing works by artists such as John Singer Sargent and Édouard Manet. Winter, the Fox Hunt stands among his independent creations, illustrating his mastery of the medium beyond his role as a reproductive engraver.
Context
The late nineteenth century saw a revival of interest in wood engraving as a fine‑art medium, particularly in America where illustrators and printmakers sought greater tonal range. Wolf’s work aligns with this movement, combining the technical rigor of European training with the commercial and artistic demands of the New York publishing world.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Wolf (1852–1916) was a French-born wood engraver who lived and worked in the United States during his most influential work period and until his death.
