Who painted Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left]?

Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left] was painted by American 19th Century in 1858.

Where can I see Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left]?

Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left]?

Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left] is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left]

American 19th Century , 1858

Thanksgiving Day - Ways and Means [upper left] is an ink print by the Impressionist artist American 19th Century. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Each quadrant captures a distinct moment: outdoor hunting and food preparation, a bustling dining room, a sleigh‑borne return home, and a communal dance.

The work titled *Thanksgiving Day – Ways and Means* is a wood‑engraved print that presents four separate vignettes of a nineteenth‑century Thanksgiving celebration. Each quadrant captures a distinct moment: outdoor hunting and food preparation, a bustling dining room, a sleigh‑borne return home, and a communal dance. The composition is arranged in a grid, allowing the viewer to follow the sequence of activities that comprise the holiday.

Subject & Meaning

The scenes collectively illustrate the social rituals surrounding Thanksgiving, emphasizing communal labor, feasting, travel, and merriment. The inclusion of a tepee in the hunting panel introduces an unexpected element, suggesting either a romanticized view of frontier life or a symbolic reference to the broader cultural landscape of the United States during the period.

Technique & Style

Executed in black wood engraving, the image relies on fine linear incisions to suggest texture, depth, and motion. The artist employs varying line weight and cross‑hatching to delineate figures, foliage, and interior furnishings, a method typical of the medium’s capacity for detailed, reproducible imagery in the era before photographic printing.

Context

Wood engraving was a prevalent medium for illustrated publications in the 1800s, enabling mass distribution of visual narratives. This print likely served as an illustration for a periodical or a book describing American customs, situating it within a tradition of documentary art that recorded everyday life and national celebrations.

Artist & collection

Artist

American 19th Century

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…