The Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter

 Title: The Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter
Artist: Alexander Gardner
Medium:
Year: 1863

Give a brief description of the movement, photographer, or term you researched. How are they significant to the history of photography (50-75 words)?

In July of 1863, Lee's army retreated from Gettysburg leaving behind them dead and wounded soldiers along with abandoned artillery. Alexander Gardner came upon the scene of a dead sharpshooter lying in his lonely shooting barracks. I think this photograph is specifically significant to the history of photography because it really depicted the downside of the war. This photo and others depicting the war were a staple of the time and really documented a dark part of America's history.

Write a short personal reaction to the movement, photographer or term you researched. What is interesting or not interesting about the work (50-75 words)?

The first thing that really stuck out in this photograph to me was the idea that the sharpshooter died all alone and no one really knows how long he was laying there after he sustained his wounds before he died. What makes the photograph so successful was that the photographer made the sharpshooter the center of the piece and focused only on his immediate surroundings instead of elaborating more on location. The way the photograph is set up makes it almost hard to look at anything else but the soldier which really makes you think more about him and who he might have been.

Name (please only include if it is ok to publish on blog): Chellie Miller