Two Scouts

"Two Scouts" by Winslow Homer is a significant drawing completed in 1865, capturing a moment of quiet observation as the American Civil War concluded. Executed in precise graphite on wove paper, the drawing showcases the artist’s foundational ability to render form and atmosphere through line rather than color, techniques he honed during his early career as a magazine illustrator.

This classification of Drawing belongs to the critical period of American art spanning 1851 to 1875, when Homer first established himself as a keen visual documentarian of contemporary life and conflict. The composition features two military figures, presumably Union scouts, navigating an ambiguous, perhaps transitional, landscape. Homer typically used such field sketches as preparatory studies or finished works reflecting the immediacy of wartime experience. The subtle shading and deliberate cross-hatching reveal the texture of their clothing and equipment, emphasizing the practical realities faced by those on the front lines. The focus is on documentary realism rather than dramatic staging, characteristic of Homer’s approach to depicting soldiers following his deployment as a war correspondent.

The piece offers valuable insight into the working methods of Winslow Homer before he fully committed to oil painting in the subsequent decade. The delicate rendering highlights his early mastery of form and light, establishing the visual vocabulary he would employ throughout his career.

As an historically important American work, the drawing is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., confirming its status as a key reference for understanding the artist’s early output. Due to its cultural importance and age, high-resolution reproductions of Two Scouts are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring that students and researchers have continued access to prints detailing Homer’s exceptional skills in this essential medium.