From well before the Civil War, the core social issues of freedom and of enslavement were present American Art. Sometimes, it was very intentional, such as images dealing with the Revolutionary War against Britain. Those images and objects most often spoke to freedom in strong tones and themes. Enslavement and slavery were also depicted in Colonial and American art from well before 1776. Some of the scenes conveyed the power of the enslaver, sometimes with shocking brutality, and the futility of seeking freedom. Sometimes, the enslaved were part of ostensibly genteel images, which were presumably intended to convey the “civilized” wealth and prosperity of the enslaver, and perhaps also how the enslaved benefitted from their role of subservience.
In this segment of this Virtual Learning Center, the Foundation will aspire to provide at least a primer of artwork conveying the subjects of freedom and slavery in America.
[This segment is currently under construction and will be added to in the near future]