As the well-known Chinese proverb goes, “one picture is worth 10,000 words.” This saying means that one can tell a story or convey information without ever using words: an image can be more valuable and explain a situation more clearly, and with more emotion, than words, which can often be misunderstood (Martin). This practice is common today, and can be found even 150 years ago. Images are often used to persuade audiences into a certain point of view and evoke powerful reactions that change how someone views a situation. Matthew Brady understood the influence that a picture can have, and he used his photography of the Civil War to transform how Americans viewed war. Prior to the Civil War in 1861, paintings depicted the images of …show more content…
In this piece of art, which was commissioned a year after the battle physically took place, the artist captures, “a time when George Washington was exercising his truly heroic qualities in the American cause,” (“Washington at Monmouth”). Through the chaos of the battle at Monmouth, Washington is again shown as a powerful commander, coming alongside his men willing to fight with them. Because the painting was made a year after the event, the focus is on celebrating the American soldiers, portraying the cause in a positive light. However, hindsight can skew perspective and, in this case, can gloss over the harshness of a situation in favor of highlighting the valiant aspects. Like many of the paintings of its time, the emphasis of Washington at Monmouth was on the glory and the courageousness of the battle. This artistic perspective allowed the American people to view war in a romanticized way, seeing only the …show more content…
Brady grew up in the mid-1800’s in the state of New York, where he was tutored in the arts. Brady enjoyed his lessons so much that he opened a studio for his paintings and miniature portraits. Brady became very popular with the public, and when he started to gain fame in his career, he moved to Washington D.C. where he married his wife, Juliette Handy. He opened The National Photographic Art Gallery and published a book filled with photographs of famous Americans such as Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson. At this time, Brady was also getting attention from the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. In fact, it was Brady who took the now iconic picture of Lincoln that is on the five-dollar bill still today (“Mathew Brady”). Brady was passionate about his career in photography and wanted to take it to another level. As controversy over the Civil War arose, Brady felt compelled to capture the war like no one had done before. Although people warned him of the dangers and risks of going into the war zone with his photography equipment Brady was determined to make it happen. After securing permission, he said his most famous words: “I can only describe the destiny that overruled me by saying…I had to go. A spirit in my feet said, ‘Go,’ and I went,” (Murray 59). This quote helps to illustrate his conviction and his willingness to go wherever necessary in order to tell the
Mathew Brady’s influence on the civil war was very heavy on society. This is one of the main reasons he is so well known. His main focuses on the photos of the civil war were thousands of images of camp life, battlefields, and portraits of famous citizens during the war. When the war broke out he organized a team and wanted to create a comprehensive photo documentation of the war. He planned to follow the soldiers on the field to capture the major events in the civil war. This was all at his own expense. Together with his constructed team of photographers they produced more than 10,000 images of the conflict, and brought the gruesome realities of warfare home to the American public. Although Brady was very successful with his photographs and studios he had a dream to photograph the war that was taking place. Brady's most famous exhibition from the war was entitled "The Dead at Antietam," which featured numerous photographs of corpses on the battlefield and brought the war home to the American people in a way not previously seen. He then ventures to photograph and travel the events of the war. According to the information on the Civil War Organization page, “By the end of the war Brady had accumulated serious debt in hopes of selling his collection to the New York Historical Society; however, the deal fell through. Fortunately for the American
Emmanuel Leutze’s painting Washington Crossing the Delaware shares some similarities with David Shulman’s poem “Washington Crossing the Delaware”; however, the dissimilarities are more abundant. These works of art and literature portray the scene of that remembered Christmas day when Washington and his army set out to conquer to Hessian people. Although they have similarities, there are some differences in these works that are nothing less than noticeable. Join me in observing the similarities and dissimilarities in these pieces.
Three American Icons that were injured during the Civil War were the following; General Robert E. Lee, General John Buford, and Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The Civil War was between the Northern and the Southern states from April 12, 1861- May 9, 1865. Around 620,000 people had died in the Civil War. The United States was divided because of the issue with slavery. During the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee invaded the North in the summer of 1863. Lee was defeated by General George G. Meade. The three day battle near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania had killed or wounded about 52,000 men.
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Emanuel Leutze’s oil on canvas painting Washington Crossing the Delaware, measuring 12′ 5″ x 21′ 3″, depicts the famous tale of George Washington’s victory during the Battle of Trenton. This historical battle is believed to be the turning point of the revolutionary war as it ended a long held losing streak and boosted the troops morale. Emanuel, a German having lived in America for a time, painted this piece upon returning home. Emanuel painted Washington Crossing the Delaware in response to German politics. He hoped that it would inspire his fellow man in the fight for their freedom. We are very fortunate to have the last true painting, located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as the others have perished threw flames and bombings.
Not only did Brady risk his money, but he also risked his life. While taking the pictures, Brady came under direct fire at the battlefields, and after photographing one of the battles, he became lost for three days and almost starved to death. He and his group managed to stay alive throughout the whole war. They photographed thousands of photos that included battlefields and camp life. Brady was the first photographer to ever completely document a
Before the invention of the camera, news traveled through word of mouth, writing, telegrams, and other forms of communication. Often times important moments were depicted through paintings, and drawings. Unfortunately, because of opinion and misinterpretation, many of those moments, had been depicted incorrectly. Take, for example the Boston Massacre which took place in the late 1700’s before the invention of the camera. In order to inform people of what is now known as the shot heard around the world, Paul Revere, a famous American revolutionist made an engraving of the scene.
No other war seems to hold our focus like the Civil War. Scholars have chosen to make it their life's work, authors have written reams about it, and we all feel some kind of connection to the Civil War. This paper was created to highlight some of the major battles that took place during that conflict. Major battles usually marked a drastic change in the momentum from one side to the other or led to massive losses of troops. These battles and their results all played a huge part in the outcome of the war.
Franklin has developed an awesome essay addressing the evolution of technology used in Americas` wars also the media’s presentation of theses wars to the public in the U.S. He emphasized mostly the media’s presentation of war, the forms and methods that it has gradually evolved to, and its lies and biases. Franklin discusses, however, how the projection of the war was romanticized at the beginning since paintings was the only way to visualize and express the war . However when photographs and videos were invented, it was a normal effect that the image of war was deglamorized. One of the results that, these images showed more truth than the previous romanticized paintings of old wars. Unfortunately, not all of these wars were candidly projected like the Civil War, but do not please be surprised to know that, the American government manipulated that technology only to their favor to portray a fake victory for America rather than a big failure.
The Civil War continues to be a major talking point today -- a war that was fought over the extension of slavery. In 2017, a contentious conversation continues as the public debates the reasons of the Civil War, whether or not it was about slavery or states’ rights, and the ethics behind having massive monuments commemorating a time of our history that was so divisive. Symbols of the Confederacy, which includes the Confederate flag and monuments depicting leaders of the Confederacy, are seen to be racist and propaganda tools used by white supremacists. However, there are those who believe that these confederate symbols are misleading and leads to the false ideas that the South was patriotic and heroic during the Civil War. Through
In the civil war army regulations where called for the camp to be laid out in a fixed pattern. The officers’ quarters were at the front end of every street and the men's quarter at the rear of the same streets. Every tent that the military had had there own colors. The different types of tents were the mess tent, the medical cabin, and the baggage where the trains were located.
If someone were to ask you to name one of your congressman, would you be able to? Many American citizens struggle to name a single one of their congressman or congresswoman. History is a very important thing to study because without knowing our history we are more likely to repeat our past. However, knowing our past requires us to know our present. The fate of their country addresses many topics of why the civil war occurred and why it mattered, however, Holt makes it very clear in the preface that his theme and vital point of this book is “what politicians do in elective office matters.” Holt address that when we are uninformed about our government we become wrongfully upset.
Images, such as paintings and photographs, are intensely visually striking and evoke strong emotions in those who view them.“Into the Jaws of Death” provides a perfect example of that intensity, having been taken by Robert F. Sargent during the early morning hours of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Even today the famous photograph evokes strong emotional reactions in many people who view it. This photograph served a purpose more significant than was realized at the time, to the point of becoming a pivotal point in support for the war effort. How was this accomplished? By conveying personal themes of heroism, patriotism, and mortality through devices such as angles, colors, uniforms, and proxemics.
War photography eventually coined the term “a photo is worth a million words” due to the graphic, emotional nature of these images. Whereas, most of the war photographers were civilians with camera their images did not have a bias and did not support either of the opposing forces therefore producing a visual form of news which does not lie. War photography influenced society overall in a positive way by shedding a light on a topic that was not commonly discussed and by educating the general public on the horrors that are
A picture represents a moment in history that cannot be authentically recreated. To catch an action, an image, or an emotion by film is truly a special gift and one which most people take for granted. For an image to capture a moment that simultaneously speaks for one person, a nation, and a cause is really “worth a thousand words” as Neil Postman puts it (515), even a million. It is irreplaceable by anything other than understanding, appreciation, and wonder. Three memorable photographs that embody these assets are those of five members of the British Royal Family walking behind Princess Diana’s coffin, Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon, and American soldiers raising the flag atop a