Mounted Cavalryman

Winslow Homer's sketch depicts a Union cavalryman on horseback, rendered in ink and wash with rapid, economical linework. The soldier wears a military jacket with visible insignia and carries equipment typical of Civil War cavalry. A second figure appears at right, lightly sketched. Homer, primarily known as a painter and illustrator, created numerous drawings during the 1860s documenting military life and battlefield scenes. His loose, gestural approach—combining observation with expressive mark-making—influenced American illustration and visual reportage. Such field sketches served as studies for larger compositions and demonstrated the versatility of drawing as both documentary record and artistic exploration.