In this artwork, how is the Death of the Analysis elucidated?
One of the important aspects of the painting is the scythe the veteran holds. This scythe has invited comparison with the Grim Reaper, the famous harbinger of death. This emphasizes the farmer's past as a soldier, and war's connection to death. The presence of the veteran harvesting the wheat parallels the massive loss of life in the American Civil War and the "harvesting" of bodies that took place. The veteran's time at war, according to this interpretation, has prepared him for his time in the field, making him more successful at harvesting.Additionally, the use of wheat as a crop is an important aspect of the painting's commentary on mortality. Wheat had historically been placed on coffins, connecting the crop with death. The veteran is surrounded by wheat, which is sometimes seen as a reminder that the soldier had been surrounded by death during his time at war. Alternatively, the presence of wheat may symbolize the North. Wheat is a northern crop, and was often used on patriotic images during the Civil War period. Additionally, during this time, the North was often said to be "as good as wheat," establishing a connection to the North.The harvest and death had often been linked in art from earlier eras.The Veteran in a New Field has also been interpreted as an elegy to Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated the year the painting was finished. The painting's focus on the North and Union, along with its melancholy tone have led art historians such as Nancy Rash to theorize that the painting itself was made in order to honor Lincoln and his legacy.
American Civil War Grim Reaper Abraham Lincoln Union