End of the March [recto]

End of the March [recto] by Winslow Homer, created in 1862, is a direct and poignant work of documentation produced during the early years of the American Civil War. Executed in graphite on bristol board, this drawing exemplifies the artist’s sharp observational skill and the immediacy required of a wartime illustrator. Homer, working at this time as an artist-correspondent, was focused not just on dramatic combat, but on the ordinary yet taxing experiences of the Union soldier.

The title suggests the subject matter involves exhausted troops concluding a long journey, a theme Homer returned to frequently as he sought to capture the psychological weight of marching and waiting. The choice of graphite allows the artist to sketch figures rapidly, capturing postures and gestures that convey fatigue and relief. This piece, classified simply as a Drawing, demonstrates the development of Homer’s distinctive figure style, which prioritized clarity and realistic anatomy over romantic idealization. It is representative of the transition in mid-19th century American visual culture toward greater naturalism.

This work fits securely within the 1851 to 1875 period, marking a pivotal moment when the artist began utilizing his journalistic experience to inform his mature fine art practice. Homer used these rapid sketches both as finished observations and sometimes as preparatory material for his later, widely circulated oil paintings and wood engravings published in Harper’s Weekly.

As a significant historical artifact detailing the lives of soldiers, this piece of American visual history resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Drawings of this nature, produced during a time of intense national conflict, offer essential insights into 19th-century military life, and high-resolution prints are frequently made available for study through public domain initiatives to ensure broad scholarly access.