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Political Cartoon of the American Civil War, by Emanuel Leutze, ink, 1864

Political Cartoon of the American Civil War

Emanuel Leutze

1864

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century History Painting

Dominant colour

Political Cartoon of the American Civil War is a 1864 ink 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 six dramatic scenes with wild, exaggerated figures. Some wear crowns or hold guns, while others look defeated or angry. The lines are loose and shaky, like quick notes. One panel has a ship labeled "Gulf of Mexico," and another shows a battle with a fallen soldier. The artist scribbled dates like 1864 and 1865 in the corners, hinting at real events. The mix of chaos and symbols feels urgent—like a protest or a warning. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build drama with just lines.

About the artist

Portrait of Emanuel Leutze
Artist

Emanuel Leutze

Emanuel Leutze grew up in America but moved to Germany as a teen, where he studied art in Düsseldorf.

See the richer artist page

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