Making Clothes for the Boys in the Army (from Confederate War Etchings) 1861 - 1863

Adalbert John Volck made this etching called 'Making Clothes for the Boys in the Army' during the Confederate War. At first glance, we see women engaged in the domestic tasks of spinning, weaving, and sewing, alluding to themes of labor and domesticity. Yet, these acts transcend mere utility, evoking a deeper sense of the eternal feminine— a powerful archetype of nurturing and care that stretches back to the classical world, such as the Fates spinning the thread of life. This connects to images of women weaving tapestries, like Philomela weaving her story of abuse, or Penelope weaving a shroud to delay her remarriage and remember her husband, Ulysses. The cyclical nature of their actions—spinning, weaving, sewing—mirrors the rhythms of life itself. The act of creating garments becomes a symbol of hope, resilience, and remembrance. The women's labor serves as an emotional anchor, a powerful force engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The scene invokes not only the physical act of creating clothes, but also the emotional fabric of care and memory passed down through generations.