Robert E. Lee in War and Peace: The Photographic History of a Confederate and American Icon

This is a beautifully compiled book of two topics you don’t typically hear much about paired together; photography and Robert. E. Lee. If you have never given photography in the 1800’s any thought, you will after only a few pages into Robert E. Lee in War and Peace: A Photographic History of a Confederate and American Icon. Unlike nowadays where everything is digital and within a matter of seconds you can take a picture, edit it, and upload it for the entire world to see, that was not the case back then. This book talks about backmarks (company or photographer logo or information) commonly found imprinted upon the backside of a photograph, vignettes and the common practice of using this specific style, and how a wooden neck piece used to stabilize one’s neck from movement.

Throughout the book we see varying versions of pictures of Lee and upon close inspection you notice that many of these pictures are the same, but edited – and this was without the use of Photoshop. Extensive altering could take a dinner jacket and make it into a military formal uniform, remove items from a shot, and change the atmosphere of the sitting. This book will blow your away with a rich history lesson of both a great General and of photography. Definitely buy it!