Collection
/
American Art

Christmas Boxes in Camp--Christmas, 1861

Winslow Homer

1 of 2

Object Label

Homer created this lighthearted image while camping with the Union army in Virginia as a “special artist” covering the front lines for Harper’s Weekly. In it the soldiers have tossed aside their books and tracts in favor of newly delivered socks, mittens, and home-cooked treats. The somewhat sentimental engraving illustrates the spontaneous joy that Christmas presents inspired among the soldiers. Ultimately, the illustration was meant to lift the spirits of the dedicated women who sent such packages to the front.

Caption

Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910). Christmas Boxes in Camp--Christmas, 1861, 1862. Wood engraving, Image: 11 1/8 x 9 1/8 in. (28.3 x 23.2 cm) Sheet: 15 1/8 x 10 in. (38.4 x 25.4 cm) Frame: 22 3/4 x 16 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (57.8 x 42.5 x 3.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Harvey Isbitts, 1998.105.66. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

American Art

Title

Christmas Boxes in Camp--Christmas, 1861

Date

1862

Medium

Wood engraving

Classification

Print

Dimensions

Image: 11 1/8 x 9 1/8 in. (28.3 x 23.2 cm) Sheet: 15 1/8 x 10 in. (38.4 x 25.4 cm) Frame: 22 3/4 x 16 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (57.8 x 42.5 x 3.8 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Harvey Isbitts

Accession Number

1998.105.66

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Artists and makers

Winslow Homer

281 works in the collection