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See the American Civil War in Color Photographs

See the American Civil War in Color Photographs

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Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Capt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Updated: April 17, 2015 8:40 AM [ET] | Originally published: April 9, 2015 3:59 AM EDT;

On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in northern Virginia, marking the end of more than four years of hostilities that split the U.S. in two.

Now, 150 years later, TIME looks back at the American Civil War… in color. We commissioned Swedish artist Sanna Dullaway to restore and colorize some of the most iconic images shot, in black and white, during the Civil War.

The end result, which can take up to three hours to achieve per picture, offers a novel and contemporary perspective to history.

Sanna Dullaway is a photo editor based in Sweden. See more of her work here.

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand; at the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, Sept.-Oct., 1862.Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand; at the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, Sept.-Oct., 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Surgeons of the 3rd Division before hospital tent in Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1864.Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Surgeons of the 3rd Division before hospital tent in Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1864.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — John L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1863.Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — John L. Burns, the "old hero of Gettysburg," with gun and crutches in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1863.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Washington, District of Columbia. Tent life of the 31st Penn. Inf. at Queen's farm, vicinity of Fort Slocum in Washington, DC, 1861.Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Washington, District of Columbia. Tent life of the 31st Penn. Inf. at Queen's farm, vicinity of Fort Slocum in Washington, DC, 1861.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Allan Pinkerton ("E. J. Allen") of the Secret Service on horseback in Antietam, Md., Oct. 1862.Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Allan Pinkerton ("E. J. Allen") of the Secret Service on horseback in Antietam, Md., Oct. 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Cock fighting at Gen. Orlando B. Willcox's headquarters in Petersburg, Va., 1864.David Knox—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Cock fighting at Gen. Orlando B. Willcox's headquarters in Petersburg, Va., 1864.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: David Knox—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Camp of Captain [John J.] Hoff., in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1865William Morris Smith—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Camp of Captain [John J.] Hoff., in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1865Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: William Morris Smith—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — African American legislator Robert Smalls of South Carolina. Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — African American legislator Robert Smalls of South Carolina. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of Rear Adm. David D. Porter, officer of the Federal Navy, 1860.Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of Rear Adm. David D. Porter, officer of the Federal Navy, 1860.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, officer of the Federal Army, 1865.Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, officer of the Federal Army, 1865.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, 1863. Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, 1863. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — President Lincoln on the battlefieldLibrary of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — President Lincoln on the battlefieldPhoto colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — President Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan in the general's tent, Antietam, Md., Sept. - Oct. 1862.Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — President Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan in the general's tent, Antietam, Md., Sept. - Oct. 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Capt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Capt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Officer's mess, Company E, 93rd New York Volunteers, in Bealeton, Va., Aug., 1863Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Officer's mess, Company E, 93rd New York Volunteers, in Bealeton, Va., Aug., 1863Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Three Confederate prisoners in Gettysburg, Penn., June-July, 1863.Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Three Confederate prisoners in Gettysburg, Penn., June-July, 1863.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Dead on battlefield at 1st Bull Run, 1862-1865Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Dead on battlefield at 1st Bull Run, 1862-1865Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Dead Confederate sharpshooter at foot of Little Round Top on the battlefield at Gettysburg, July, 1863Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Dead Confederate sharpshooter at foot of Little Round Top on the battlefield at Gettysburg, July, 1863Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Remembering the dead at Sudley Church near Bull Run, Va. March 1862.George N. Barnard—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Remembering the dead at Sudley Church near Bull Run, Va. March 1862.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: George N. Barnard—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — A surgical photo from the Surgeon General's War Department shows an injured soldier with both arms amputated. Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — A surgical photo from the Surgeon General's War Department shows an injured soldier with both arms amputated. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Powder boy by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 1860.Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Powder boy by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 1860.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters, 1863-1865.Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters, 1863-1865.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Mary Todd LincolnMathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Mary Todd LincolnPhoto colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Abraham Lincoln in a reflective pose, in Washington, DC, May 16, 1861. Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Abraham Lincoln in a reflective pose, in Washington, DC, May 16, 1861. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Lewis Payne, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Lewis Payne, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — David E. Herold, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — David E. Herold, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865. Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Frederick DouglassLibrary of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Frederick DouglassPhoto colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, officer of the Federal Army, 1860-1865.Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Portrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, officer of the Federal Army, 1860-1865.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — The staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Lieutenant William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining at Falmouth, Va., 1863Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — The staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Lieutenant William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining at Falmouth, Va., 1863Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Soldiers bathing near the ruins of a railroad bridge, North Anna River, Va, May, 1864.Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Soldiers bathing near the ruins of a railroad bridge, North Anna River, Va, May, 1864.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Alfred R. Waud, artist of Harper's Weekly, sketching on battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., July 1863.Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

Civil War in Color Lincoln Sana Dullaway — Alfred R. Waud, artist of Harper's Weekly, sketching on battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., July 1863.Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O'Sullivan—Library of Congress

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