Confederate Fortifications, Yorktown, Virginia 1861 - 1865

This albumen silver print shows the Confederate Fortifications in Yorktown, Virginia, and was made by James F. Gibson during the American Civil War. Gibson has captured a scene dominated by earthworks, painstakingly constructed from thousands of sandbags, and heavy artillery surrounded by wooden crates and barrels. The image's somber tones and sharp focus draw attention to the brutal realities of warfare, where manual labor and industrial production intersect. Each sandbag represents hours of filling and stacking, a testament to the labor involved in creating these defensive structures. The presence of artillery, manufactured in distant factories, highlights the industrialization of war, contrasting with the handmade nature of the fortifications. These materials—earth, textiles, wood, and metal—speak volumes about the conflict's demands on both human effort and industrial output. By focusing on these material aspects, we gain a deeper understanding of the war's impact on society, challenging traditional notions of art and emphasizing the importance of craft and industry in shaping historical events.