Life in Camp, Part 2: Fording
Original title: Life in Camp, Part 2: Fording
kurzbeschreibung
Created in 1864, this color lithograph by Winslow Homer belongs to the "Life in Camp" series. It shows three soldiers in blue uniforms wading through a body of water, while pieces of equipment hang from hooks in the background.
Description
Three men in blue uniforms and hats trudge through the water, two of them steadying themselves on poles or sticks. Behind them, several uniforms and items of gear dangle from hooks. The tones stay muted, and the light falls evenly, casting hardly any shadows. The layout is horizontal, and the word "FORDING" appears at the bottom edge of the sheet.
Context
In 1864, in the middle of the American Civil War, Homer worked as a draftsman for papers such as Harper's Weekly. The "Life in Camp" series was devoted to soldiers' everyday life. Lithographs of this kind often circulated as collectible cards or in series and were aimed at a middle-class audience that followed the course of the war.
Impact
The subject comes across plainly and without pathos. Because the light falls so evenly and the colors remain restrained, the print takes on a documentary quality that directs attention to the daily hardship of the soldiers.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a color lithograph, in which greasy ink is transferred to a stone. The tones appear thin, and details are partly lost, as was common for lithographs of those years. At 10.4 x 6.1 cm, it is a small format suited for collecting.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)