Life in Camp, Part 2: Our Special
Original title: Life in Camp, Part 2: Our Special
kurzbeschreibung
A man in an oversized red hat takes center stage in this comic caricature, which Winslow Homer produced as a color lithograph in 1864. Measuring just 10.4 by 6.1 cm, the sheet belongs to a series that pokes gentle fun at camp life during the American Civil War.
Description
What catches the eye first is the man's unruly mop of curls as he sits astride a thick yellow tube that could pass for a cannon barrel. Blue trousers, a red-and-blue jacket and red boots make up his outfit; his left hand holds a piece of paper that his right hand points to. Trees, blue sky and a few scattered clouds close off the view behind him, and at the bottom the words 'OUR SPECIAL' stand out in capital letters. Red, blue, yellow and brown carry the image, lit evenly so that hard shadows never appear.
Context
Homer drew this lithograph in 1864, in the thick of the American Civil War, at a time when he was working for papers such as Harper's Weekly. The publisher Louis Prang commissioned the 'Life in Camp' series with a broad audience in mind. Prints of this kind were prized collectibles, meant to entertain rather than to make a political point.
Impact
Exaggerated proportions and an idiosyncratic arrangement of the elements give the sheet a funny, memorable feel. Bright colors and a simple layout lend it something popular and easy to approach.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a color lithograph, a process common in the mid-nineteenth century for large editions. Fine lines and bold areas of color could be combined well in it, which suited Homer's humorous hand. At 10.4 by 6.1 cm the format is small and handy, as if intended for a collector's card or a postcard.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)