Capturing the Spanish-
American War
William Glackens
(1870-1938)
El Poso [El Pozo]
Wash drawing,
July 1898
Prints & Photographs Division
Gift of Ira Glackens (54.8)
William Glackens
(1870--1938)
[Just before the opening
of the engagement, El Pozo],
Spanish American War, 1898
Pen and ink wash, and
Chinese white on paper
Prints & Photographs Division (54.11)
William Glackens(1870-1938)
[Loading horses on the
transports at Port Tampa],
Spanish-American War, 1898
Pen-and-ink wash, Chinese white,
and charcoal on paper
Prints & Photographs
Division (54.12)
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The Spanish-American War, a brief but vicious campaign that left
240 Americans dead and 1,400 wounded, was waged in 1898. American
artist William Glackens was sent to Cuba to capture the action for
McClure's Magazine. Published at a time when photographers had made
documentary sketch artists virtually obsolete, Glacken's work represents
the apotheosis of American graphic journalism.
El Pozo is one of five drawings produced by William
Glackens used to illustrate an eyewitness account as reported in
the October 1898 issue of McClure's Magazine of the
assault on San Juan Hill, overlooking Santiago, Cuba. Glackens was
the only artist sent by the magazine to cover the Spanish American
War fought in the spring and summer of 1898. His sketches in the
field capture the atmosphere and mood of this short-lived war. After
the war, Glackens concentrated on his art, gaining renown as a member
of what came to be known as the "Ashcan School" of American painters.
William Glackens
(1870-1938)
General Lecret and Colonel
Figuretti Inspecting Cuban Recruits at Cuban Headquarters
Ink and wash drawing,
Chinese white and crayon on paper,
July 1898
Prints & Photographs
Division
LC-USZ62-23321 (54.15)
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