Army of the Potomac - A Sharp Shooter on Picket Duty 1862

Curator: This anonymous print, titled "Army of the Potomac - A Sharp Shooter on Picket Duty," captures a Union soldier during the American Civil War. It's a wood engraving. Editor: It strikes me as stark and haunting. The sharpshooter, perched in the tree, feels isolated even within the dense foliage. Curator: Indeed. Published in Harper's Weekly, images like these played a vital role in shaping public opinion and conveying the realities of war to those on the home front. This work speaks to the evolving visual culture of war reportage. Editor: The graphic lines are incredible, aren't they? The artist manages to create depth and texture with simple hatching. Note how the form follows the angle of the rifle. Curator: Right, and the gaze of the soldier mirrors the viewer's; we are both implicated in this scene of potential violence. Editor: I see now; it's a potent reminder that seeing is itself an act with consequence. Curator: And in understanding that, we might better comprehend the role of such imagery in the political climate of the time.