Winslow Homer was one of the few Civil War artist-reporters for Harper’s Weekly Illustrated.
Homer apprenticed as a graphic designer from the age of 19. Although photography had been developed before the war began, it was not a viable option for visually documenting battles or war on the front line because the technology was limited and the equipment was cumbersome and dangerous. Homer made three trips to the front line to document the battles and the living conditions of enlisted men.
The need for artist illustrations was beneficial to Homer and his development as an artist. Artist-reporters had to be good draftsmen, observant, and skilled at composing the work so that it communicated the scenes accurately. Working conditions included: battles, injuries, amputations, starvation, and disease. Homer’s work was praised for being fair, balanced, and empathetic.
Winslow Homer, Army Teamsters
After the Civil War, Homer led a distinguished career as an oil and watercolor painter, known for his scenes of contemporary life, landscapes, and seascapes. He also produced commercial illustrations for various magazines. Although he never taught art professionally, his work influenced generations of American artists to come.
In 1962, a little over 100 years after he first traveled with Union troops as a war correspondent, the US Post Office released a commemorative stamp in Homer’s honor. The subject chosen was “Breezing Up (A Fair Wind).”
Mr. Winslow Homer is, indeed, one of America’s greatest painters.