Grant and Lincoln at City Point, Virginia [recto] 1865

Winslow Homer made this sketch in April 1864, capturing Grant and Lincoln at City Point, Virginia. The Civil War was raging, and Homer, embedded with the Union Army as an artist-correspondent, bore witness to the conflict's grim realities. This work offers a rare glimpse into the personal dynamics between two men who were then shaping the destiny of a nation. The pencil marks capture a moment in time, where the weight of leadership and the complexities of identity are palpable. Homer’s sketch complicates traditional representations of power and masculinity. This is not a scene of grandstanding, but rather a quiet, contemplative space where the weight of responsibility seems to be shared. The soft medium of pencil blurs the lines between public duty and private burden. It offers a poignant meditation on leadership during times of profound social upheaval and asks us to consider the personal toll of power.