Hon. Elihu B. Washburne of Illinois 1860

Winslow Homer created this printed illustration of the Hon. Elihu B. Washburne of Illinois. The lithographic ink on paper captures Washburne in a formal portrait, above a Western scene. The combination evokes a unique interplay between individual authority and the broader narrative of American expansion. The portrait's stark formality is achieved through precise, controlled lines. This is juxtaposed with the lower scene which depicts a group of figures participating in the feverish activity of gold mining. The illustration uses sharp contrasts to establish a visual hierarchy. Washburne, rendered with meticulous detail, towers over the scene of gold miners, their forms more loosely defined. This design leverages a semiotic structure, contrasting the refinement of portraiture with the ruggedness of labor. The structure reveals deeper cultural codes relating to power, representation, and the construction of American identity during this period. The combination of formal portraiture with scenes of westward expansion suggests a narrative of control, ambition, and the imposition of order on the landscape.