Dog Art Today

Tag: civil war

  • Veterans Day

    Soldier-family-dog-civil-war-photograph

    Tent life of the 31st Pennsylvania Infantry at Queen’s Farm, Vicinity of Fort Slocum, D.C., 1861

    Via Shorpy where you can buy a copy of this image.

  • Memorial Day (belated)

    Civil_war_dog_zucchero

    An oversized artillery officer with small dog (from Michael Zucchero's collection)

    I meant to post this yesterday in honor of Memorial Day.  It is from the book Loyal Hearts: Histories of American Civil War Canines by Michael Zucchero.  My parents sent me a signed copy of this charming book, filled with anecdotes of Civil War dogs and photos of the soldiers who loved them, after attending a speech by the author.  I wanted to read it before Memorial Day and post a review in honor of our soldiers.  I didn't get that done either.

    Feeling guilty about deadline's missed, I'm falling back on the cliche of a picture and a thousand words.  And I've  selected this image to honor those who have served out country.   I think this beefy artillery officer photographed with his little white dog exemplifies the individuality of every soldier.  And the tiny "girly" dog amplifies the warrior's humanity and in a strange way, the insanity of war.   How can a man who cares for this tiny, loving creature kill his fellow man?  How can we continue to ask this of a portion of our society? 
    And continue to look away when they come back broken? 

    Thank you to all the soldiers who heroically serve in our wars.  I hope you can come home soon and see your "loyal hearts."

    Read a reviewof Loyal Hearts here.  It is filled with amazing canine Civil War photos that the author has collected through the years, many never published before.  Each one a story of dog love in a time of war.

  • Veterans Day

    Recovered_henochsberg

    "Recovered" by M. Henochsberg, 1869

    I hate saying "Happy" Veterans Day because I think war is a sickening waste.  Nothing happy about it, except perhaps when the soldiers come home.  I hope our active soldiers can soon move into the ranks of the veterans and stay there.

    I couldn't find out much about the above lithograph.   The Library of Congress simply states, "Wounded soldier lying on ground with two soldiers kneeling and dog sitting alongside him."

    It was created in 1869 and depicts Civil War soldiers.  I wonder what its purpose was.  Drop me a note if you have any idea.

    My local radio station KVMR is playing songs for veterans, many of them are anti-war.   Click here to listen to a live stream of it — the best local radio station in the land (really).