After the Battle c. 19th century

"After the Battle" is an engraving by William B. Closson. The work depicts the grim aftermath of conflict, revealing the human cost of war. Closson, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lived in a time marked by significant social and political upheaval, including the American Civil War and subsequent Reconstruction era. His art often captured scenes of everyday life and historical events. Here, we see a field hospital, the wounded being tended to. The somber tones and detailed rendering of the figures evoke empathy for the suffering soldiers. What is the artist trying to say? The print invites reflection on themes of mortality, sacrifice, and the legacy of violence. It serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind historical events, and the individual lives irrevocably changed by conflict.