1863

Artist Fred Wilson (American, born 1954)

CultureAmerican

Date2006

MediumArchival inkjet with glassine overlay

DimensionsOverall, Image: 26 1/4 × 34 in. (66.7 × 86.4 cm)

PortfolioEdition of 35

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number2020.23.1

Not on view

Label Textleft Printed by John Henry Bufford American, 1810–1970 Camp of Massachusetts Sixth Regiment, Vols., Suffolk, VA, 1863 Multi-stone lithograph Museum purchase 2020.23.2 right Fred Wilson American, born 1954 1863, 2006 Archival inkjet with glassine overlay, edition of 35 Museum purchase 2020.23.1 Both of these prints depict the Civil War camp of the Massachusetts Sixth Regiment in Suffolk, VA. One was created during the war, while the other is much more recent. Why might a contemporary artist revisit a historical print? Northern printmakers produced Union Army camp scenes in the Civil War to offer visual records for those following their loved ones’ actions from afar. Over a century later, artist Fred Wilson reframes the same image, highlighting the invisibility of contributions by women and African Americans during this time. The frosted overlay covers the scene, with a small hole at the left-side calling attention to an African American laundress. Looking at details often reveals long ignored or forgotten aspects of history. ProvenanceThe print is offered by Krakow Witkin Gallery. It is a digital reproduction of a vintage lithograph. The vintage print is being offered at the same time as the reproduced version.