Soldiers and Cannon [verso] 1862

Winslow Homer made this pencil drawing, titled "Soldiers and Cannon," on paper, though the exact date remains unknown. It offers a glimpse into the visual culture surrounding the American Civil War. As an artist-reporter, Homer worked for Harper's Weekly, a popular magazine that shaped public opinion during this tumultuous period. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. This sketch likely served as a preliminary study for a more polished illustration. By examining Harper's Weekly archives, letters, and other period documents, we can better understand how such images were produced, circulated, and consumed. In this way, we come to appreciate the role of the artist in shaping historical narratives. The study of art depends on grasping the social and institutional contexts in which they are made.