Life in Camp, Part 2: Extra Ration
Original title: Life in Camp, Part 2: Extra Ration
kurzbeschreibung
Winslow Homer's 1864 lithograph 'Life in Camp, Part 2: Extra Ration' presents a Union soldier receiving an additional food ration in an army camp. The print belongs to a series that chronicles everyday life during the American Civil War.
Description
Your eye goes straight to the soldier in the foreground, whose uniform catches attention with a dark red jacket sleeve, a blue sleeve with gold trim, and a red cap. He holds a bowl full of meat or other food in both hands. Behind him, several tents suggest a military camp. Along the bottom edge, the words 'EXTRA RATION' stand out in large black letters. Strong colors and sharp contrasts between the dark uniforms and the lighter background define the image.
Context
Homer drew this sheet in 1864, in the middle of the American Civil War, while working as an artist correspondent for Harper's Weekly. It is part of a six-part lithograph series titled 'Life in Camp,' which deals with soldiers' camp life. The extra ration refers to special occasions when soldiers received additional food, such as after battles or on holidays.
Impact
Vivid colors and a clear layout make the scene feel immediate and down-to-earth. The soldier with his bowl captures a moment that hovers between the everyday and the exceptional, without pathos or idealization.
Technique
Executed as a color lithograph, in which the motif is drawn on a stone and then transferred to paper. The clear lines and flat colors are typical of 19th-century printmaking and allowed for inexpensive reproduction.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)