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Camp Ellsworth, Near Alexandria—Five Zouaves

Emanuel Leutze

1864

gouache

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Camp Ellsworth, Near Alexandria—Five Zouaves is a 1864 gouache by Emanuel Leutze, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

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

About this work

This sketch shows a group of soldiers in a rough camp. They’re standing around a fire, dressed in loose uniforms with flags nearby. Some are talking, others are sitting on logs or leaning on sticks. The background has trees and a few buildings, but everything looks simple and hurried, like it was drawn fast. The soldiers are called Zouaves, a type of French-led unit known for their colorful uniforms. The artist used light colors and quick strokes to show movement and life in the camp. Next, check out the technique: gouache to see how this soft, opaque paint works.