The Georgia Delegation in Congress 1861

Winslow Homer created this print of the Georgia Delegation in Congress, published in Harper's Weekly in 1862, during the Civil War. It depicts ten men, all white, who represented Georgia in the U.S. Congress. Consider the historical context: this image was made as the war raged over the issue of slavery. Each of these men were slave owners, complicit in the exploitation and dehumanization of Black people. Their very presence in Congress was a symbol of the deep divisions within the nation. How do we grapple with this legacy today? Homer's detailed engraving captures the individual features of each delegate, yet, collectively, they embody a political stance rooted in racial inequality and the perpetuation of injustice. These are not just portraits; they are representations of power and privilege. How do we reconcile the artistic skill with the troubling history it portrays? The visual weight of their gaze reminds us that we must confront uncomfortable aspects of our shared history.