The artwork, titled “Death of Col Edward D. Baker at the Battle of Balls Bluff near Leesburg Va. Oct. 21st 1861,” is a creation by Currier and Ives, dated 1861. Belonging to the Romanticism art movement, it falls under the genre of battle painting and is part of a series dedicated to the American Civil War.
The artwork poignantly captures a scene of turmoil and chaos from the Battle of Ball’s Bluff. At the center, a depiction shows Colonel Edward D. Baker, moments before his death, amidst the heated skirmish, highlighting the intensity and brutality of the battle. Soldiers are depicted in vibrant blue uniforms, their expressions marked by urgency and despair. The American flag, symbolizing both patriotism and strife, is prominently held aloft, though tattered and worn from the conflict. In the background, smoke and indistinct figures merge, portraying the confusion and danger of the battlefield. Through dramatic contrast and vivid detail, this Romanticism-inspired battle painting masterfully conveys the somber and heroic aspects of the American Civil War.
