‘The Army of the Potomac – A Sharpshooter on Picket Duty,’ 1862. Wood engraving drawn by Homer and engraved at Harper’s premises in New York. 9 1/8 x 13¾ inches, Harper’s Weekly, VI (June 14, 1862): 359. This design was based on a painting of the same subject, but the linearity of engraving infuses it with a greater realism and intensity. The soldier’s anonymity resonates suggestively, making him into Everyman while implying the faceless barbarity of warfare as this man does no more than perform his job; morality is absent. Far from heroic, Homer’s version of conflict is brutally honest.
Photograph and text by Simon Cooke. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Bibliography
Harper’s Weekly (1862).
Created 29 August 2023