The Walking Wounded 1861 - 1862

Winslow Homer created this pen and ink drawing, entitled "The Walking Wounded", during the American Civil War. Homer worked as a freelance artist, and his images provided glimpses into the daily lives and emotional landscapes of soldiers. Here, we are confronted with a stark depiction of the aftermath of battle. The sketch emphasizes the physical and psychological toll of war on the individual, revealing the wounded soldiers’ exhaustion and pain. These men were on the front lines of a nation divided, fighting in a conflict deeply intertwined with questions of race, freedom, and identity. The drawing prompts us to consider the human cost of war and the long-lasting impact on those who fought. The visual language here is a departure from romanticized war imagery, it's a move towards realism. "The Walking Wounded" is a meditation on the vulnerability of the body, the wounds of war, and the emotional weight of trauma.