Flag Officer Stringham

Flag Officer Stringham, created by Winslow Homer in 1861, is a significant early work produced during the nascent stages of the American Civil War. This print is rendered as a wood engraving, a popular and efficient medium for mass circulation images in the United States during the mid-nineteenth century. The technique of wood engraving allowed Homer, who was then working primarily as an illustrator, to quickly capture and disseminate images of key figures and events crucial to the Union war effort.

The work depicts Flag Officer Silas Horton Stringham, who commanded the Union squadron during the successful Battle of Hatteras Inlet in August 1861, securing a vital point off the coast of North Carolina. Homer’s skill in depicting military and public figures is evident in this portrait, capturing the seriousness required of naval leadership during wartime. Although better known today for his later oil paintings, Homer’s contribution to the documentary history of the conflict through his prints established his reputation as a leading American artist.

This important historical print is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Examples of Civil War-era American prints such as Flag Officer Stringham provide crucial insight into the visual culture of the period. Because many of Homer's illustrations from this time were published in widely circulated magazines, some versions of this subject are now available through public domain archives, ensuring broad access to the work of this pivotal artist of the United States.