The artwork, titled “General Order No. 11,” was painted by George Caleb Bingham in 1868. Created using oil on canvas, this painting represents the Romanticism and Naïve Art (Primitivism) movements. The artwork measures 141 by 199.4 cm and falls under the genre of history painting. Presently, it is housed in the Cincinnati Art Museum, located in Cincinnati, OH, US.
“General Order No. 11” is a poignant historical scene that captures the somber aftermath of the Civil War. The composition is densely populated with figures, depicting a moment of turmoil and displacement. To the left, a mounted soldier and civilians are seen, reflecting a scene of military enforcement and upheaval. Central to the scene is an older man being comforted or restrained by a woman in white, surrounded by various individuals in anguished or disheartened postures. The sky above is dark and foreboding, filled with billowing smoke, suggesting the devastation brought by war. The overall tone of the artwork is one of sorrow and disruption, effectively conveying the grave impact of the military order depicted.
