President Lincoln, General Grant, and Tad Lincoln at a Railway Station

President Lincoln, General Grant, and Tad Lincoln at a Railway Station is a significant wood engraving created by the American artist Winslow Homer in 1887. Although produced more than twenty years after the conclusion of the Civil War, the print captures a powerful historical vignette featuring Abraham Lincoln, General Ulysses S. Grant, and the President's youngest son, Thomas “Tad” Lincoln. Homer visualizes a quiet moment of interaction and respite amid the tumultuous backdrop of the American war effort, presenting the two crucial figures of the conflict interacting in the informal, transitory setting of a railway station.

Homer, who began his career as an illustrator working extensively with periodicals like Harper's Weekly, utilized the graphic medium of wood engraving to achieve striking detail and ensure mass reproducibility. This medium allowed the artist to distribute historical and wartime imagery widely, contributing significantly to the visual record of the United States during the period. The composition of this work draws attention to the contrast between the gravity of the military leaders and the innocent presence of the child, effectively humanizing the monumental burdens of wartime command.

The work underscores Homer’s sustained interest in national themes and historical narrative. The detailed illustration is characteristic of late 19th-century graphic art, combining journalistic clarity with an empathetic depth that distinguishes Homer's oeuvre. This valuable print is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, preserving a key depiction of American leadership. As a widely reproduced print, high-quality images of this compelling historical scene are often available for educational use through public domain resources.