Resting Mules Tethered to Wagons 1862

Winslow Homer created this pencil drawing of resting mules tethered to wagons in the United States, most likely during or shortly after the Civil War. Homer worked as an artist-correspondent during the war. He was employed by Harper's Weekly, which was an illustrated journal of the time. Journals like this helped to shape public opinion through words and images. The practice of sending artists into the field was relatively new, and as such it helped to popularize a more gritty, documentary style of war reportage. This drawing is a good example of the style. Homer's drawing is a quick sketch, more about recording a scene than presenting a highly finished work of art. The mules and wagons suggest the movement of troops or supplies. The drawing is a great resource for historians, as it provides details of the uniforms, equipment, and animals used during the conflict. Such drawings, and the larger body of artwork that Winslow Homer created, are invaluable for understanding the visual culture of the Civil War era.