Tourist Guide

Playing Soldiers

This painting features three young boys playing soldier, as the title suggests. It is interesting that children are the focus of the painting especially since the subject matter, war, is a harsh one. Looking at the painting it seems as though the middle child, presumably the oldest, is actually staring at you with a warning in his eyes. This painting was created right after the Civil War so war was on everyones minds. The children’s outfits are each in either red whit or blue, representing the colors of the American flag and the Union victory.