Civil War Experiences

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Civil War Experiences
The Power of a Picture
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Matthew Brady, 1823-1896

• Pioneer of photo journalism in America
• Known for his photos of the horror filled Civil
  War
• Known for many photographs of dignitaries such as
  presidents

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Photojournalism
William Tecumseh Sherman and his staff
Matthew Brady
General Lee
Union Gen.. Potter his staff before the battle
of the Wilderness, VA, May1864
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Behind the Scenes
Matthew Bradys subject matter focused mostly on
the behind the scenes of the wars such as the
camp life of the soldiers and generals, building
bridges, digging trenches instead of the actual
fighting.
Phillip Henry Sheridan
Joseph Hooker
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More photos...
Brady took this photo of Widow Rose Greenhow and
her daughter. She was a popular Washington
hostess of diverse friendships until the war when
she supported the Confederate cause
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Comparing then to now

• It is also known than Matthew Brady would compose
  the dead bodies to make and compositionally
  interesting photo, how does this compare to
  photography now?
• Do we do something similar to this?

• After the Civil War, Brady, his name and his
  images had become household words, but he
  returned to the private practice of being a
  portraitist.
• His work foreshadowed the work of artists of
  Thomas Eakins and John Singer Sargent.