Thanksgiving in Camp

Thanksgiving in Camp by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) is a potent wood engraving on paper created in 1862 during the height of the American Civil War. Published in the influential illustrated weekly Harper's Weekly, this print served a vital role in bringing the realities of the front line back to the northern home front. As a war correspondent and illustrator, Homer utilized the demanding technique of wood engraving to depict scenes of Union soldiers attempting to celebrate the annual holiday far from the comforts of home.

The work captures a moment of poignant domesticity amidst the conflict. The artist focuses on the details of daily camp life, contrasting the traditional celebratory nature of Thanksgiving with the stark, improvised setting of military service in the United States. Homer’s masterful draftsmanship humanizes the soldiers, showing them gathering around meager provisions, receiving packages, or simply resting, providing essential visual documentation of their shared experiences in 1862.

This piece establishes Homer’s reputation as a keen observer of American society, capable of finding deep resonance in everyday scenes. Today, the work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historically significant illustration, this image is widely studied and represents one of the many important prints from the American Civil War era that are frequently accessible in the public domain.