The Last Delegation from South Carolina in the Congress of the United States

The Last Delegation from South Carolina in the Congress of the United States by Winslow Homer, created in 1860, is a historically significant wood engraving reflecting the immediate political crisis facing the American union. This striking print captures the moment following South Carolina's secession convention vote in December 1860, portraying the state’s delegation formally withdrawing from the House floor just weeks before the nation dissolved into Civil War.

Produced at a pivotal time in United States history, the work functioned as instant visual commentary on the fracturing of the government. Homer, then working extensively as a graphic reporter and illustrator, used the detailed technique inherent to wood engraving, allowing for rapid reproduction and dissemination of current events to a wide audience through illustrated periodicals. The composition emphasizes the formality and gravity of the proceedings, illustrating the deep constitutional rift developing between the North and South.

Homer’s early career focused heavily on graphic arts, and pieces like The Last Delegation from South Carolina establish his skill in reportorial illustration before his transition to oil painting. This essential record of American history from 1860 resides in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a culturally significant print, this work is frequently studied for its role in journalistic documentation of the prelude to the Civil War, often being referenced among historical prints now considered part of the public domain.