Who painted The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty?

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty was painted by American 19th Century in 1862.

Where can I see The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty?

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty?

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty

American 19th Century , 1862

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty is an ink print by the Impressionist artist American 19th Century. It dates from 1862 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty is a wood engraving print depicting a solitary Union sharpshooter in a wooded setting during the American Civil War. Originally published in a magazine during the conflict, it is notable for its early representation of a sniper in action.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving portrays a sharpshooter crouched in camouflage, intently focused on a distant target, conveying concentration over fear. A serene bird nearby contrasts the tense, solitary nature of the soldier's duty, highlighting the sharpshooter's role and the war's intersection with nature.

Technique & Style

The artist employed fine lines to render detailed textures of bark and leaves, utilizing cross-hatching to build nuanced shadows through layered lines, achieving depth and dimensionality in the wooden environment.

History & Provenance

Published in a magazine during the American Civil War, this wood engraving is among the earliest visual depictions of a lone sniper in action, offering a contemporary glimpse into wartime tactics and public perception.

Context

Created amidst the Civil War, the piece reflects the era's military strategies and the growing public interest in the war's realities through media. Its magazine publication suggests it was meant for a broad audience, influencing how the general public imagined the conflict.

Legacy

As one of the first images to portray a sniper, it may have influenced subsequent artistic and journalistic depictions of sharpshooters, contributing to the evolution of war imagery in popular media.

Artist & collection

Artist

American 19th Century

This artist painted everyday American life in the 1800s. Look at *Farmhouse in Mahantango Valley*—a quiet, sunlit scene of rural Pennsylvania. *Boy and Girl* shows two children standing close, their faces turned toward…