Life in Camp, Part 1: Upset His Coffee 1864

Winslow Homer made this print, titled *Life in Camp, Part 1: Upset His Coffee*, using wood engraving, a technique that was common for mass-produced imagery in the 19th century. Look closely and you can see how this process influenced the print’s appearance. The design would have been carved into the end grain of a block of wood, then inked and pressed onto paper. The crisp lines and distinct areas of tone are characteristic of this method, which lent itself well to bold, graphic images. This print captures a slice of life in a Civil War army camp, with soldiers milling about and one reacting to having his coffee spilled. Wood engraving was a commercial medium, used for newspapers, magazines, and advertisements. Homer’s choice of this medium suggests that he saw his work as part of a broader visual culture, rather than as a precious, unique object. The print’s subject matter also speaks to the realities of labor and class during wartime, portraying the everyday lives of ordinary soldiers. By understanding the materials, making, and context of this print, we can appreciate its significance beyond traditional art historical categories.