"Any Thing for Me, if you Please?" Post-Office of the Brooklyn Fair in Aid of the Sanitary Commission (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VIII)

"Any Thing for Me, if you Please?" Post-Office of the Brooklyn Fair in Aid of the Sanitary Commission (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VIII) by Winslow Homer is a significant wood engraving created in 1864. Published in the popular illustrated journal Harper's Weekly, this print documents a major fundraising effort during the American Civil War. Homer, then working extensively as an illustrator and correspondent, captured scenes from the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair, events vital for raising funds and supplies for injured Union soldiers.

The scene depicts a temporary post office established within the fairgrounds. Men and women crowd the counter, anxiously seeking letters and communication from the front lines. The tension inherent in the American Civil War era is palpable, as correspondence represented the primary connection between soldiers and their families. Homer focuses on the gestures and expressions of those waiting or engaged in writing, capturing a slice of domestic life heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict. This type of genre scene, rendered in the detailed yet brisk style typical of mid-19th century wood engraving, solidified Homer’s reputation as a keen observer of contemporary culture.

This important historical document confirms the dedication of Northern citizens to the Union cause, illustrating how fairs and decentralized fundraising supported the war effort. As an original illustration from 1864, the print provides crucial insight into home-front activities during the conflict. The work is classified as a print within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and publication history in Harper’s, images of "Any Thing for Me, if you Please?" Post-Office of the Brooklyn Fair are frequently available in the public domain, making this aspect of Homer's extensive illustrative career widely accessible for study and appreciation.