It is estimated that about 750,000 Americans died during the Civil War. This represented about 2.5% of the population. Most families were affected to some degree and many were captured in photographs wearing mourning attire and articles. In this poignant photograph by Charles Rees of Richmond, Virginia, a young lady is pictured wearing a black mourning ribbon on her arm. She also wears a brooch with the image of a lady visible on magnification. Her daughter is held by her side. Rees was a master at tinting as evidenced by the tinting on their dresses. The somber look on their faces helps to tell their story. Rees has signed the image on the left lower aspect.
Charles Ricard Rees was a prominent photographer in Richmond during the war. For an excellent review of Rees please refer to Dominick Serrano’s article Rees of Richmond: A fresh look at the combative, competitive and brilliant Confederate photographer Charles Ricard Rees in the Winter 2022 issue of Military Images.
- Guy Gugliotta, “New Estimate Raises Civil War Death Toll,” New York Times, April 3, 2012.
- Facing History & Ourselves, “Statistics From the Civil War,” last updated July 11, 2022.
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