The Seventy-Ninth Regiment (Highlanders) New York State Militia

The Seventy-Ninth Regiment (Highlanders) New York State Militia, created by Winslow Homer in 1861, is an important early example of the artist's engagement with the American Civil War. Executed as a wood engraving, this print captures a moment of military activity shortly after the conflict began. Homer, a talented illustrator and artist for Harper's Weekly, was often commissioned to document the rapidly unfolding events of the Union effort. This classification as a print emphasizes its role as a mass-produced image, designed to inform and engage the public across the United States during a period of intense national division. The subject itself highlights the colorful appearance and distinct identity of the 79th New York Regiment, known for their Scottish Highland attire.

As an accomplished observer, Homer renders the scene with the detailed clarity necessary for effective graphic journalism. The technical constraints of the wood engraving medium required rapid production and high contrast, techniques mastered by the young Homer. Unlike later works focused on battlefield trauma, this early 1861 image focuses on the preparation and display of troops, capturing the atmosphere surrounding mobilization. Homer’s technique here utilizes strong lines and deep shading, characteristic of graphic works intended for reproduction in popular magazines of the era.

This historic print is significant both for its historical documentation and as a marker in the development of Homer’s career, transitioning from illustrator to fine artist. Works such as The Seventy-Ninth Regiment (Highlanders) New York State Militia provided the foundation for his later, more renowned oil paintings. Residing now in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the work remains an accessible piece of American visual history. Its status as an historic print often places it among works available for study or distribution through public domain channels, cementing its legacy as a foundational piece of Civil War culture.