Harry Fenn was one of the most skilled and successful
illustrators in the United States in the latter half of the
nineteenth century, a time when illustrated periodicals and books
were the primary means of sharing visual images. Fenn's work
fostered pride in America's scenic landscapes and urban centers,
informed a curious public about foreign lands, and promoted
appreciation of printed pictures as artworks for a growing middle
class.
Arriving in New York from London in 1857 as a young wood
engraver, Fenn soon forged a career in illustration. His tiny
black-and-white wood engravings for Whittier's Snow-Bound (1868)
surprised critics with their power, and his bold, innovative
compositions for Picturesque America (1872--74) were enormously
popular and expanded the field for illustrators and publishers. In
the 1880s and '90s, his appeared in many of the finest magazines
and newspapers, depicting the places and events that interested the
public -- from post--Civil War national reconciliation to the
World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 to the beginnings of
imperialism in the Spanish-American War.
This handsomely designed volume documents Fenn's prolific career
from the 1860s until his death in 1911. Sue Rainey also recounts
his adventurous sketching trips in the western United States,
Europe, and the Middle East, which enhanced his reputation for
depicting far-flung places at a time when the nation was taking a
more prominent role on the world stage.
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