The Crack Team of the 1st Division, 6th Corps near Hazel River, Virginia 1861 - 1865

Editor: This photograph, “The Crack Team of the 1st Division, 6th Corps near Hazel River, Virginia,” was taken by Timothy O'Sullivan sometime between 1861 and 1865, and it’s a gelatin-silver print. It has an incredibly documentary feel; there's so much detail in the wagon and the figures, all sharply contrasted in black and white. What are your initial observations? Curator: Note the carefully organized structure and the photographer's focus on capturing various textures: the roughness of the ground, the smooth canvas of the wagon, the sleek coats of the horses. Observe how O’Sullivan uses the tonal range, contrasting dark and light areas to create a sense of depth. How do you see the semiotics playing out, observing the lines, shapes and composition? Editor: I see a few interesting symbols. I see a medical symbol painted on the side of the wagon. So is the light-dark contrast symbolic of a bigger philosophical idea, in your mind? Curator: Exactly. And consider how the horizontal emphasis contributes to a feeling of stasis or a momentary pause. This formal arrangement directs our attention to the thematic subject: a brief moment of rest. O'Sullivan wants you to explore this complex meaning through form and technique. The structure of the landscape contributes to the larger theme of war. Editor: It's fascinating to look at a Civil War photograph in this way, rather than just thinking about its historical context. I now see how much can be expressed through the choices made in composition and tone alone. Curator: Precisely. Paying attention to such intrinsic elements unveils additional layers of meaning and enhances one’s understanding and appreciation of the work as a whole. The material nature of this photograph enhances the intrinsic and the visual nature, by conveying the scene, theme, subject, and symbol without having to describe it.