
Untitled (Chicago after the Fire)
1871 · Albumen prints
22.8 × 155 cm (9 × 61 1/16 in.)
Art Institute of Chicago

George N. Barnard was an American photographer active in the mid-19th century, known for his documentary work during the American Civil War. Working with the wet collodion process, Barnard produced large-format photographs that recorded military camps, fortifications, and the aftermath of battle with unflinching detail. His images from Sherman's March to the Sea stand among the most significant photographic records of the war's destruction and its human cost. Barnard's work established photography as an essential tool for historical documentation.
Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 25d ago