The Army of the Potomac – A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VII)

The Army of the Potomac – A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VII) by Winslow Homer, 1862, is a potent example of wartime illustration captured in the medium of wood engraving. Created early in the conflict, this highly detailed print provided Northern audiences with an immediate and often unvarnished glimpse of Union soldiers on the front lines of the American Civil War.

Homer, working as a field correspondent for the influential illustrated magazine Harper’s Weekly, captured the essential nature of specialized military roles. This piece focuses on the solitary existence of a sharp-shooter, one of the elite soldiers tasked with reconnaissance and targeted long-range engagement. The composition, typical of early Civil War scenes, emphasizes the tension and isolation inherent in picket duty. The soldier is depicted with his firearm, intently focused on the distant, unseen enemy, capturing the quiet danger faced by these men.

This important print demonstrates Homer’s transition from journalistic illustration toward fine art, showcasing his burgeoning ability to translate observation into powerful narrative imagery. The constraints of the wood engraving technique allowed the artist to focus on stark contrasts of light and shadow, highlighting the seriousness of the soldier’s duty. While many such historical prints documenting the war are now in the public domain, this original 1862 work remains a foundational piece for studying the visual culture of the period. It is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.