"Orrin, Make Haste, I Am Perishing!"

Winslow Homer

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

In Egyptian art, one symbol could represent both a trait and its opposite. The hippopotamus could represent great danger and chaos or, alternatively, fertility and protection in childbirth. The statuette of a male hippopotamus could represent the god Seth, who embodied danger, chaos, and disorder in the world. Yet the rare limestone statuette of hippopotami mating perhaps served as a symbol that preserved the fertility of the earth. And a necklace consisting of images of the female hippopotamus goddess Taweret could protect a woman in labor.

Caption

Winslow Homer American, 1836–1910. "Orrin, Make Haste, I Am Perishing!", 1868. Wood engraving, Image: 4 3/4 x 7 in. (12.1 x 17.8 cm) Sheet: 5 3/4 x 8 7/8 in. (14.6 x 22.5 cm) Frame: 15 x 20 x 1 1/2 in. (38.1 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Harvey Isbitts, 1998.105.115. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1998.105.115_bw.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

American Art

Title

"Orrin, Make Haste, I Am Perishing!"

Date

1868

Medium

Wood engraving

Classification

Print

Dimensions

Image: 4 3/4 x 7 in. (12.1 x 17.8 cm) Sheet: 5 3/4 x 8 7/8 in. (14.6 x 22.5 cm) Frame: 15 x 20 x 1 1/2 in. (38.1 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Harvey Isbitts

Accession Number

1998.105.115

Rights

No known copyright restrictions

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