Zuavo
1864
Winslow Homer captured the gritty reality of the American Civil War in this 1864 sketch of a Zouave soldier. Notice the distinctive uniform—the baggy trousers, leg wrappings, and turban were inspired by North African fighters and were incredibly fashionable for Union regiments at the time. Homer wasn't just sitting in a cozy studio; he was a correspondent for Harper's Weekly, sketching soldiers right on the front lines. The way the figure looks down with slumped shoulders really sells the sheer fatigue of a long campaign, stripping away any romantic glory of battle.
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