Currier & Ives

Description

Comic print using stereotypes to racistly satirize the gunmanship of African Americans. Shows an older African American couple, depicted with exaggerated features and mannerisms, in the aftermath of the husband firing a shot in their backyard. Shows, in the left, the husband, attired in blue coat tails and striped pants, jumping a fence, his gun powder horn flying above his head, and his gun and hunter's hat lying on the ground behind him. He is accompanied by his dogs, a bony brown dog climbing over the fence with him, and a pit-bull like dog who holds his owner's torn pants seat in his jaws as he prepares to follow him. In the right, his wife, attired in a blue top, red skirt, and white pantaloons, topples over in a wicker basket of laundry. The clothesline pole lands on her head as her bare-footed legs fly in the air. Pieces of clothing, including a gunshot white shirt with clothes pins at the shoulders fly about her. A log house with a chimney and a dog house are visible in the background. The Darktown series of over 100 prints was issued mid 1870s-1890s. Thomas Worth was the artist of several of the prints in the reported popular and profitable series.; Thos. Worth.; Title printed below image.; Issued as part of the "Darktown" comics series.; Date from copyright statement: Copyright 1881 By Currier & Ives, N. Y.

Record Contributed By

The Library Company of Philadelphia

Record Harvested From

PA Digital