Campaign Sketches: Our Jolly Cook 1863

"Campaign Sketches: Our Jolly Cook" is a black and white illustration created by Winslow Homer in 1863, now located at the Art Institute of Chicago. Homer, a renowned American artist, captured the daily life of soldiers during the Civil War in this sketch. The image portrays a lively scene with a black cook, likely enslaved, performing a lively dance while Union soldiers look on. This piece, while depicting a humorous moment, also reflects the complex realities of the war and the role of African Americans in the conflict.