History –“Back Home, April 1865”: A new deal mural in Pleasant Hill, Missouri
In the heart of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, a striking piece of history resides in the local post office—an oil-on-canvas mural titled “Back Home, April 1865.” Created by the renowned artist Tom Lea, this artwork stands as a testament to the resilience of the Missouri countryside and its people in the wake of the Civil War. Commissioned in 1939 through the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, a program of the New Deal aimed at enriching public buildings with art, this mural encapsulates the devastation of the Civil War era and the arduous journey of recovery that followed.
The mural, painted in the late 1930s, tells the poignant story of a time when Missouri’s countryside had been ravaged by the turmoil of war. With the war’s end in April 1865, the people of Missouri faced the daunting task of rebuilding their homes, livelihoods, and communities. Tom Lea’s depiction captures not just the physical destruction but also the emotional weight of the moment. The figures in the painting appear determined yet weary—a reflection of the hope and hardship intertwined in the post-war struggle.
Born in 1907 in El Paso, Texas, Tom Lea was an artist, illustrator, and writer whose works are steeped in history and human emotion. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before embarking on a distinguished career that included creating murals for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and serving as a war correspondent during World War II. Lea’s ability to fuse narrative storytelling with his artistic talent made him one of the leading figures of New Deal-era public art. His murals often explored themes of historical significance and military life, as seen in “Back Home, April 1865.”
Lea’s work became synonymous with a vivid sense of storytelling. His ability to evoke powerful emotions and capture historical moments through art is exemplified in one of his most iconic paintings, The Two Thousand Yard Stare, a chilling portrayal of a battle-weary Marine during World War II. The painting became a symbol of the psychological toll war takes on soldiers, cementing Lea’s place in the canon of American war art.
For those who visit the post office in Pleasant Hill, “Back Home, April 1865” is more than just a mural—it’s a piece of history, a visual chronicle of perseverance, and a reminder of the power art holds in capturing the essence of a nation’s journey. It is a haunting portrayal of a battle-weary Marine during World War II. This painting has become an iconic representation of combat fatigue and the psychological toll of war. His works are highly valued, with some pieces fetching significant sums at auction and being displayed in prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
