Halt of a Wagon Train

"Halt of a Wagon Train" is a powerful 1864 wood engraving on paper created by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) and published by the influential journal, Harper's Weekly. As a special correspondent and leading illustrator of his era, Homer utilized the accessible medium of wood engraving to document the realities of the Civil War for mass consumption across the United States.

Executed late in the conflict, this print depicts a temporary rest for a large military wagon train. The detailed composition emphasizes the complex logistics, infrastructure, and arduous daily life experienced by soldiers and supporting personnel operating far from the front lines. The scene captures a moment of quiet activity during a halt, focusing on the crucial relationship between the men and the horses necessary for wartime movement. Homer skillfully leverages the high-contrast nature inherent to the engraving process to highlight textures and atmospheric conditions, demonstrating his early mastery of pictorial journalism.

This work is historically significant, providing tangible insight into the Union efforts of the 1860s. The speed and relative ease of the print medium allowed these essential records to be rapidly disseminated through widely circulated editions. Homer’s achievements in this field during the war years laid the groundwork for his later career as one of America’s most revered painters. This print, a key example of 19th-century American art, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the image is frequently encountered today through digital public domain archives.