Four Small Sketches of Army Mules and Wagon
Medium
figures
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Savage Homer, Jr.
Accession Number
1912-12-151-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Winslow Homer's *Four Small Sketches of Mules and Wagon*1862) offers a glimpse into the gritty realities of the American Civil. Created during a pivotal year of the conflict, these quick studies capture essential elements of military life: sturdy army mules and a laden wagon, vital for transporting supplies across battlefields. Homer, a pioneering American realist (1836–1910), began his career as an illustrator for *Harper's Weekly*, where he honed his skills in on-the-spot sketching amid soldiers and camp scenes. As pencil or charcoal studies classified under "figures," these works highlight...