Our Women and the War

Our Women and the War, created by Winslow Homer in 1862, is a significant example of American Civil War illustration focused on the complexities of the home front. Rendered as a finely detailed wood engraving, this print medium was vital for mass-market periodicals like Harper's Weekly during the 19th century, allowing for the rapid reproduction and dissemination of current events to a wide audience across the United States. Homer, who served as a correspondent artist documenting the conflict, often focused on the human cost of the war, examining both the soldiers and the families left behind.

Dating from the height of the conflict, the composition centers specifically on the role of women during wartime, a theme Homer explored often in his early career. Unlike direct illustrations of battle, this classification of prints addresses the patriotism, sacrifice, and quiet endurance exhibited by women organizing support efforts, providing aid, or awaiting news from the front. Homer utilized the precise, illustrative lines inherent in wood engraving to convey narrative intensity and emotional clarity, transforming the daily struggles of civilian life into profound public statements.

As one of the era’s most insightful visual commentators, Homer established a powerful foundation for his later career with documentary works such as this. The piece highlights the crucial dialogue between domesticity and national crisis that defined the period. This important wood engraving is part of the permanent print collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of the historical significance of the original publication, high-resolution scans of the image Our Women and the War are frequently available for study through public domain art initiatives.