The Halt of the Line of Battle
1876
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1876
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows soldiers on horseback lined up in a field, their horses draped in white cloths. Some men stand nearby, watching. The ground is muddy, with a few fallen bodies scattered around. In the distance, more troops ride along a hill, and a flag flutters near the center. The title hints this scene is about a battle’s pause, not the fight itself. The white cloths on the horses might be for visibility or mourning—hard to say, but they stand out. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Forbes carved this image into metal.
