A Bit of War History: The Contraband

Thomas Waterman Wood (American) 1865 Painted at the conclusion of the Civil War, this artwork comprises a narrative triptych (84.12a, b, c) that highlights the service of African Americans in the military. "The Contraband" (84.12a), depicting a self-emancipated man, portrays him in a U.S. Army Provost Marshall General office, eager to enlist. In "The Recruit" (84.12b), he is shown proudly prepared for military service. "The Veteran" (84.12c) presents him as an amputee, potentially seeking his pension in the same office where he initially enlisted or contemplating a return to military duty. By the war's end, African American men constituted over ten percent of the United States Army and Navy, displaying remarkable bravery as members of the so-called U.S. Colored Troops. Created by Wood, a White painter from Vermont, this empathetic artwork emerged in New York during an era when caricatured portrayals of African Americans were prevalent. Make a statement in any room with this framed p