Thanksgiving Day in the Army – After Dinner: The Wish-Bone (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VIII)

Thanksgiving Day in the Army – After Dinner: The Wish-Bone (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VIII) is a significant wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1864. This work, published during the height of the American Civil War, was widely disseminated through the pages of Harper's Weekly, highlighting Homer’s crucial role as a visual journalist documenting the conflict. The medium of wood engraving allowed for the rapid reproduction of the scene, sharing evocative images of the war with the Northern public.

The scene captures a moment of quiet camaraderie among Union soldiers following their holiday meal. Homer depicts men in various stages of relaxation, focusing on the central group engaged in the traditional post-meal ritual of pulling a wishbone. This imagery grounds the extraordinary circumstances of the Civil War with familiar domestic rituals, offering a momentary contrast to the brutality of wartime life.

Homer masterfully uses the high-contrast print medium to detail the figures and setting. The subject matter integrates the reality of camp life; several soldiers are shown smoking pipes, emphasizing the brief, shared respite and relief found within the ranks. This piece focuses intently on the ordinary lives of the soldiers during a significant holiday pause, rather than depicting combat itself. Homer excelled at these intimate vignettes, paving the way for his later career as a preeminent American artist. This historic print resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key example of mid-19th century American printmaking and Winslow Homer's early depiction of the soldiers of the Civil War.