Mort Kunstler

Post image for Robert E. Lee’s Reflection

Robert E. Lee’s Reflection

by Kevin Levin on April 10, 2012 · 27 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture

It’s been some time since we had fun with Civil War artists.  This is Mort Kunstler’s newest print, titled “Lee’s Great Decision.”  I’ve been looking at this for the past 15 minutes and I finally figured out what is bothering me.  Given the angle at which Kunstler painted this scene, the wall mirror should be [...]

New Kunstler Print

by Kevin Levin on September 16, 2010 · 28 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture, Lost Cause

Mort Kunstler’s latest print beautifully captures a crucial moment in the life of the Army of Northern Virginia.  The scene takes place in Orange County, Virginia following the army’s defeat at Gettysburg.  Kunstler vividly depicts the men in the army marching down main street, while Lee, Longstreet, and A.P. Hill discuss something.  As you can [...]

What Is It About the Civil War and Christmas?

by Kevin Levin on December 1, 2009 · 12 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture, Lost Cause, Memory

The two seem to go perfect together, but why?  Well, I guess in Fredericksburg it is the proximity of the famous battle to the holiday season that makes for such an easy connection.  Joyce Smith, a parishioner at Cornerstone Baptist Church, has written a Christmas Civil War drama titled “My Friend, the Enemy” which is [...]

I Think I’ve Seen This Painting Before

by Kevin Levin on September 11, 2009 · 22 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture, Lost Cause, Memory

New Release: “Duty, Honor, and Tears” by Mort Kunstler – Yep, I’ve definitely seen this before.  Click here, here, here, here, and here.    

It’s difficult to deny that the image of women in the work of contemporary Civil War artists tells us much more about the individual artist than the reality of women’s lives or the way those lives were transformed during the Civil War.  I pick on Mort Kunstler quite a bit, but his characters beg for [...]

“Magnolia Morning”

by Kevin Levin on April 27, 2009 · 15 comments · Follow me on

in Civil War Culture

I thought we might start the week off with a scene of peace and beauty. “It was the morning of great dreams and the day of high hopes. The night before, a gala ball had celebrated Southern nationhood, and had honored the men in gray who would go to war the next day. Hours later, [...]

What’s Wrong With A.P. Hill?

by Kevin Levin on November 10, 2008 · 9 comments · Follow me on

in Lost Cause

I’m sure this scene titled “Tender is the Heart” by Mort Kunstler has some basis in fact, but why would you want to paint it? Add Thomas Forehand’s The Softer Side of Robert E. Lee and you’ll be crying your eyes out for the foreseeable future.