General William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891) c. 1865

Jeremiah Gurney created this photograph of General William Tecumseh Sherman in New York, most likely during or soon after the American Civil War. Sherman's image, captured in the then-novel medium of photography, became a potent symbol, particularly in the North. Consider the institutional context: Gurney's studio was a commercial enterprise, catering to a public eager to possess images of war heroes. The photograph itself flattens the complexities of war into a single, reproducible image, contributing to the construction of national identity. Sherman, known for his "scorched earth" policy in the South, was a controversial figure. This image, however, presents him in a dignified, almost stoic pose, reinforcing a narrative of Union triumph and righteous victory. To fully understand this photograph, we might turn to archives, newspapers, and military records. The meaning of this simple image lies in the power of visual media to shape public opinion and perpetuate specific versions of history.