Gettysburg

Take a Look Are you looking at a painting or a photograph? How do you know? Describe what you are looking at. Where do you think this event took place? Why? How does the image make you feel? Explain. For what purpose was this image created? Do you see images like this today? If so, how do they compare to the image you see now? Who do you think would be looking at this image during the Civil War? Why?

The Civil War and Photography Photography was created as a moderately utilized but expensive medium shortly before the Civil War. As a result, the Civil War was captured in paintings, photography, bronzes and other images. Photography was not advanced enough to capture moving images. Therefore, you will see still photographs from the Civil War. If these photographs are from the battlefield, they often show scenes of casualties.

About the Piece This photograph of bodies of Federal soldiers killed on July 1, 1863 near the McPherson woods, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was taken by Timothy H. O’Sullivan. The Battle of Gettysburg, with 51,000 casualties took a tremendous human toll. The Union victory at Gettysburg helped secure its ultimate victory. This major event in history inspired President Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address.” Photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress