Our Women and the War, from Harper's Weekly, September 6, 1862

Art Historical Context

Winslow Homer's *Our Women and the War published in *Harper's Weekly* on September 6, 1862, captures a poignant moment from the American Civil War. As a leading illustrator for the influential weekly magazine, Homer sketched scenes directly from the front lines, translating them into wood engravings that brought the conflict into American homes. This print, of the Smithsonian American Art's collection, reflects the era's patriotism and the vital roles women played beyond the battlefield. The image depicts a group of women tenderly caring for wounded soldiers—nurses bandaging injuries and offe...

About the Artist

Winslow Homer · 1836–1910

Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was one of America's greatest painters and a preeminent figure in 19th-century American art. Largely self-taught, Homer began his career as a commercial illustrator and Civil War correspondent for Harper's Weekly before becoming renowned for his powerful marine subjects and landscape paintings. His mastery of both oil and watercolor, combined with his uncompromising reali...