Im Wachdienst. Waschtag.
1876
Edwin Forbes, a sketch artist who traveled with the Union Army, created this two-panel etching to show the unglamorous reality of Civil War life. On the left, a soldier looks utterly exhausted while leaning against a tree during 'picket' (guard) duty, capturing the sheer boredom of waiting for battle. The right panel, titled 'Washing day,' shows troops marching with a white flag of truce—likely a temporary ceasefire agreed upon by both sides just to wash their filthy uniforms in a nearby stream. Forbes turned his field sketches into these detailed prints years after the war to preserve the authentic 'life studies' of the common soldier, far away from the glory of generals.
- Technique
- Etching