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This chromolithograph of the Battle of Antietam is from Louis Prang's celebrated 1887 Civil War Pictures portfolio, which aimed to document key moments of the American Civil War. Known as the "father of the American Christmas card," Prang also revolutionized chromolithography, producing many high-quality prints with vibrant colors and fine detail.
The image depicts a scene from the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The artwork portrays Union soldiers advancing in formation, their bayonets fixed and flags flying prominently. The intense combat is evident through the explosion in the foreground, where soldiers are struck down mid-charge. The smoke-filled background and scattered casualties underscore the chaos and brutality of the battlefield. A mounted officer directs his troops from the right.
The chromolithograph was based on original artwork by Thure de Thulstrup (1848-1930).
The Civil War Pictures series was part of Prang's mission to create art accessible to the public, focusing on moments of heroism and significance from the Civil War. These prints, hailed for their technical innovation and historical accuracy, remain highly collectible. This example exemplifies the unparalleled craftsmanship of Prang, often called "the father of the American Christmas card" and a pioneer of American chromolithography. An important piece of Civil War iconography and late 19th-century printmaking.
Prang's prospectus said of this work:
These pictures constitute the first illustrations, in colors, ever issued in America on this subject, and their superiority over black and white prints, in illustrating military scenes, is at once apparent; for the flags and the uniforms of officers and troops are vividly reproduced, the fire and smoke of battle graphically portrayed, and all the surroundings represented in colors of nature and of actual war.
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