alb3802006

Walt Whitman, American Poet

Walter "Walt" Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality. Deeply touched by a visit to a wartime hospital, Whitman spent much of the Civil War as a hospital volunteer, carefully documenting his experiences caring for the wounded. Whitman's work breaks the boundaries of poetic form and is generally prose-like. He used unusual images and symbols in his poetry and wrote openly about death and sexuality, including prostitution. He died at age 72 and his funeral became a public spectacle.

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Title: Walt Whitman, American Poet

Caption: Walter "Walt" Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality. Deeply touched by a visit to a wartime hospital, Whitman spent much of the Civil War as a hospital volunteer, carefully documenting his experiences caring for the wounded. Whitman's work breaks the boundaries of poetic form and is generally prose-like. He used unusual images and symbols in his poetry and wrote openly about death and sexuality, including prostitution. He died at age 72 and his funeral became a public spectacle.

Category: people • Historical & Fine Arts • black & white

Credit: Album / NARA/Science Source

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Image size: 1193 × 1500 px | 5.1 MB

Print size: 10.1 × 12.7 cm | 469.7 × 590.6 in (300 dpi)

Keywords: 1819 • 1892 • 19TH CENTURY • AMERICA • AMERICAN • AUTHOR • BLACK & WHITE • BROKE BOUNDARIES • BW • CELEBRITIES • CELEBRITY • CIVIL WAR • COLLECTION • CONTROVERSIAL • ESSAYIST • FAMOUS PEOPLE • FAMOUS • FATHER OF FREE VERSE • FIGURE • FREE VERSE • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL & FINE ARTS • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER • HUMANIST • IMPORTANT • INFLUENTIAL • JOURNALIST • LEAVES OF GRASS • MALE • MAN • MEN • NOTABLE • OVERT • PEOPLE • PERSON • PERSONALITIES • PERSONALITY • PHOTO • PHOTOGRAPH • POET • POETIC FORM • POETRY • PORTAIT • PORTRAIT • POTRAIT • PROSE-LIKE • SEXUALITY • TRANSCENDENTALISM AND REALISM • TRANSITION • UNITED STATES • US • USA • WALT WHITMAN • WALTER WHITMAN • WAR BETWEEN THE STATES • WAR OF SECESSION • WELL-KNOWN • WHITMAN • WRITER