Andrew Wagoner 1865

This is Reed Brockway Bontecou’s portrait of Andrew Wagoner, likely created sometime in the late 19th century, made using albumen silver print. Bontecou was a surgeon and photographer during the Civil War, and his photographs offer a rare glimpse into the brutal realities of wartime injuries. Wagoner’s image is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict. We see his face in profile, and the visible damage is shocking. The injuries sustained are a testament to the violence he experienced. In this context, Bontecou's photographs challenge traditional heroic narratives of war, instead highlighting the physical and psychological trauma inflicted on individuals. Bontecou’s images speak to the intersections of medicine, representation, and identity, raising questions about how wounded bodies are perceived and remembered. This image offers both a historical record and a deeply personal account of survival amidst immense suffering.