Crew of the United States Steam Sloop "Colorado" Shipped at Boston, June, 1861

Crew of the United States Steam Sloop "Colorado" Shipped at Boston, June, 1861, is a pivotal wood engraving on paper created by Winslow Homer and published by Harper's Weekly in 1861. As the American Civil War intensified, the need for immediate visual news spurred Homer, then a young illustrator, to document the massive mobilization efforts undertaken by the Union. This print was designed for rapid mass reproduction and distribution, providing the reading public across the United States with visual access to the preparation of its naval forces.

The composition captures the chaotic but focused energy of the Boston Navy Yard as sailors report for duty aboard the USS Colorado, a powerful new steam frigate. Homer documents the array of individuals signing up for service, focusing on the human detail and the reality of recruitment during a time of national crisis. His journalistic approach, utilizing the precise linework of the wood engraving medium, transforms a historical event into an immediate, accessible image.

This early work showcases the burgeoning realist style that would define Homer’s career. Unlike romanticized battlefield scenes, the piece emphasizes the operational aspects of war and the common soldier or sailor. Many influential works like this, created by Homer during his tenure with Harper’s Weekly, later became foundational examples of 19th-century American printmaking. This impression of Crew of the United States Steam Sloop "Colorado" Shipped at Boston, June, 1861 resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.