In search of freedom
1863
Edwin Forbes captured this poignant scene in September 1863 while traveling with the Union Army in Virginia. Titled 'In search of freedom,' the sketch depicts a covered wagon packed with people—likely escaped slaves seeking refuge—being pulled by a team of horses. Forbes was an official artist-correspondent for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and his 'Life Studies' series provided a gritty, unvarnished look at the Civil War that went beyond just battles. The loose, energetic strokes convey the urgency and movement of the journey, freezing a moment of hope and displacement in American history.
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