Brigadier General Gustavus A. DeRussy and Staff on Steps of Arlington House, Arlington, Virginia 1864

Alexander Gardner made this albumen print of Brigadier General Gustavus A. DeRussy and his staff at Arlington House, in Arlington, Virginia. This image tells us a lot about the social and political climate of the United States during the Civil War. Taken on the steps of Arlington House, formerly the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, this photograph underscores the Union's occupation of Confederate territory. Consider the power dynamics at play: Gardner, as a photographer, had the power to capture and disseminate images that shaped public opinion and solidified the Union's narrative. The figures are posed in a way that exudes authority and control, reinforcing the Union's dominance. To fully understand the context of this photograph, we can turn to archival sources and institutional records. These resources can reveal details about the individuals pictured, the historical significance of Arlington House, and the photographer's intentions. This image reminds us that art is always made within, and in response to, specific social and institutional contexts.