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The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty

American 19th Century

1862

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Hunting

Dominant colour

The Army of the Potomac - A Sharp-Shooter on Picket Duty is a 1862 ink by American 19th Century, a Impressionism work, depicting Hunting, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: American 19th Century
When & what style?: 1862 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

You see a sharpshooter crouched in the woods, rifle ready, eyes locked on something far off. His uniform blends with the trees. A small bird perches nearby, calm. The soldier’s face shows focus, not fear. This engraving ran in a magazine during the Civil War. It’s one of the first images to show a lone sniper in action. The artist used fine lines to show texture in the bark and leaves. Look up the technique called cross-hatching to see how shadows are built with layers of lines.

About the artist

Artist

American 19th Century

This artist painted everyday American life in the 1800s. Look at *Farmhouse in Mahantango Valley*—a quiet, sunlit scene of rural Pennsylvania. *Boy and Girl* shows two children standing close, their faces turned toward…

See the richer artist page