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Prisoners of War

Winslow Homer

1864

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century History Painting

Dominant colour

Prisoners of War is a 1864 graphite by Winslow Homer, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Winslow Homer
When & what style?: 1864 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows four men in wide-brimmed hats and loose clothes, standing close together. One man holds a rifle, another rests his hand on his chest, and the fourth leans slightly forward. In the top corner, a small oval drawing shows a fifth man seated, also wearing a hat. The lines are quick and rough, with no fine details—just shadows and shapes. The artist focused on how light falls on their faces and clothes, making some areas darker while leaving others plain. This style was common in quick sketches to capture movement and mood. Try looking up Realism to see more art that shows everyday life this directly.