Confederate Soldier [on the Battlefield at Antietam] 1862

Alexander Gardner's "Confederate Soldier [on the Battlefield at Antietam]" (1862) is a powerful photo taken shortly after the Battle of Antietam, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. This photograph, part of a larger series of images documenting the war, captures the stark reality of death on the battlefield. The fallen soldier, lying in the grass, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, highlighting the grim realities of conflict. Gardner’s work helped shape public opinion about the war, bringing the horrors of the battlefield into American homes.