[Grand Army Review, Washington, D.C.] 1865

Alexander Gardner, a Scottish photographer known for his images of the American Civil War, created this albumen silver print, titled [Grand Army Review, Washington, D.C.]. Consider the context: Gardner documented the Civil War, an event deeply entwined with questions of identity, race, and belonging. Here, we see a formal gathering, a review of the Grand Army, composed primarily of white men, a visual statement of power. Gardner’s position as an immigrant also informs his perspective. As an outsider turned insider, he's capturing the image of a nation defining itself after immense internal conflict. The photograph reflects the complexities of the time. While it celebrates the Union Army, it also silently underscores the exclusion of African Americans from positions of power, despite their crucial contributions to the war effort. The image is a potent reminder of the selective narratives that history often presents, inviting us to reflect on who is seen, who is unseen, and how these visual choices shape our understanding of the past.