Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Timothy H. O'Sullivan

"The Harvest Of Death"

Negative by Timothy, Albumen Print by Alexander Gardner

6' 3/4" x 8' 1/2"

1863

Biography:

Timothy H. O' Sullivan, was born January 14, 1882. He worked with photography and is most known for his work with the "American Civil War." He fought in the Union Army, and was honorably discharged. His most popular photograph is "The Harvest Of Death." He was the official photographer for the U.S. "Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel." He captured photo's of the "Navajo and Pueblo Villages." He died of Tuberculosis, in Staten Island at the age of 42. 

Artist's Statement:

"Though it would be many years before photolithography could reproduce photographs like this in newspapers, photographers exhibited them publicly. They made an impression that newsprint engravings never could." 

(Fred S. Kleiner, 2010, P.650) 

Background Information:

"The Harvest Of Death," was a photo of dead Union soldiers at Gettysburg in 1863. It represented life in war. It also was a representation of photographies role and influence on life then and especially now. It was a way of catching permanent history on film. 

Connection:

To me "Photographs," are the ultimate sense of permanent, forever truth. It can capture a moment in time exactly as it happened. I will say though that in today's society, we have to be careful because of all the "photoshop" or multiple ways to alter these types of images. Anyways, this photograph is untouched and has captured death. These are real people, live photographs. Death is not always beautiful or pretty, it can very emotional and sad, disturbing and upsetting. The word "Harvest" is a perfect word for this photo because of the multitudes of people dead scattered throughout the picture. It's heartbreaking and depressing and this type of death in war is still happening to this day.