John A. Dixon 1865

This 1865 photograph by Reed Brockway Bontecou depicts John A. Dixon, a Civil War veteran, seated in a studio setting. Dixon holds a slate inscribed with his name and unit number, highlighting the importance of identity and documentation during this era. The image, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, provides a poignant glimpse into the physical and emotional toll of war on individual soldiers.