Close of the War--Hull's Victory, 1814/Close of the War--Babylon is Fallen, 1865, from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, December 16, 1865

Art Historical Context

Winslow Homer, a pioneering American realist known for his vivid Civil War illustrations, created this striking wood engraving for *Frank Leslie's Illustrated* on December 16, 5. Titled *Close of the War—Hull Victory, 1814/Close of the War—ylon is Fallen, 5*, it juxtaposes from two pivotal American conflicts: the War of 1812, marked by Captain Isaac Hull's triumph, and the Civil's triumphant end. Published just months after Confederate surrender, the print captures a moment of national reflection and joy amid Reconstruction's dawn. The image likely pairs a historical scene of 1814 revelry with a contemporary 1865 gathering, featuring an African American figure group dancing exuberantly outside a house—symbols of emancipation and "Babylon's" fall, evoking biblical triumph over oppression. Homer's precise, dynamic line work in this graphic arts print highlights his mastery of wood engraving, a medium that democratized art through mass newspapers, bringing war's human stories to everyday readers. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Ray Austrian Collection, this work underscores Homer's role in documenting social change, blending patriotism with the era's racial narratives. It's a poignant reminder of how victory meant freedom for many, preserved in ink for generations.

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...