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Rebel Works at Yorktown

Winslow Homer

1862

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Rebel Works at Yorktown is a 1862 graphite by Winslow Homer, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Winslow Homer
When & what style?: 1862 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows Union soldiers building earthworks at Yorktown. The men dig with shovels under a clear sky. One soldier checks his pocket watch while others work. The artist sketched this scene right after the battle in 1862. He wasn’t a soldier himself—just a young artist hired to record the war. Watercolor glazing gives soft color to the dirt and sky. Look closer at the watch in the soldier’s hand. It’s a clue to how long the siege lasted. National Gallery of Art, Washington