The Wages of War 1848

Henry Peters Gray painted ‘The Wages of War’ in the mid-19th century, a period marked by significant social and political transformations that included reform movements and debates about national identity. Gray positions us amidst the emotional fallout of conflict by rendering the classical subject matter through a distinctly American lens. The consequences of war are felt most acutely in the intimate sphere of family and the painting pulls at the heartstrings through its presentation of vulnerable women and children. The artist evokes a sense of responsibility, and reflects the sentimentalism of his time. The artist seems to echo a prevalent sentiment of the era. It is a somber reflection on the human cost of conflict, and resonates with a sense of collective mourning and introspection.