Sharpshooter
1863 Portland Museum of Art
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts a Union soldier perched in a pine tree, aiming a telescopic rifle during the American Civil War. It is one of Homer's earliest and most significant oil paintings, drawing upon his experiences as a war illustrator.
Did you know?
Winslow Homer drew inspiration for this painting from his time as an embedded artist during the American Civil War, specifically witnessing a sniper in a tree. The painting captures the mechanical and detached nature of modern warfare that was just beginning to emerge in the 1860s. It is noted for its stark, unflinching look at the lethal precision of a soldier concealed by nature.
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Sharpshooter
Winslow Homer, 1863
