D.B.F.: History: In the beginning...

Alfred Waud

In the entire history of the United States of America, there has been no greater tragedy than the Civil War. No natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other war even comes close to the incredible significance of the inhabitants of our blossoming country fighting against and killing one another. While countless literary works document this key period in the history of our nation, it is the images that present to us the most bold and stunning portrayals of the war. With the invention of photography came shocking images with content that had never been witnessed before; however, these images were not nearly so interesting as the way the war was portrayed by artists who actually witnessed the battle take place. One sketch artist, Alfred Waud, is perhaps the most well known of all the artists from this period. Alfred Waud was a competent sketch artist during the Civil War Era, traveling with Union troops and illustrating for Harper’s Weekly and other popular newspapers during the final half of the 19th century. http://loc.gov