Freedom to the Slaves by Currier and Ives

Freedom to the Slaves - Currier and Ives -

Artwork Information

TitleFreedom to the Slaves
ArtistCurrier and Ives
Art MovementRomanticism

About Freedom to the Slaves

The image you provided is a poster titled “Freedom to the Slaves” created by Currier and Ives, associated with the Romanticism movement. As a genre, it is regarded as a poster. Currier and Ives were known for producing popular lithographs in the 19th century.

The artwork itself depicts Abraham Lincoln in a position of proclamation, with his right hand raised and his left hand extending towards a kneeling male figure, presumably a newly freed slave. Behind Lincoln are a woman with a headscarf holding an infant and a young boy, both appearing to be African American. The man on the ground is breaking shackles off his wrists, a powerful symbol representing emancipation. The text at the bottom of the poster references the proclamation dated January 1st, 1863, by Abraham Lincoln, which declares liberty throughout all the land. This is likely a representation of the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for slaves in the Confederate states during the American Civil War. The imagery emphasizes the ideals of liberty and the dramatic shift toward the abolition of slavery in the United States.

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