Emancipation Proclamation

Art Historical Context

Created in 1864 by Albert Kidder, a printmaker active during the Civil era (1863–c. 1869), *Emancipation Proclamation* is a striking broadside print from the Smithsonian Art Museum's collection. Acquired as a gift to the National Portrait Gallery by Marvin Sadik, this captures a pivotal moment in American history accessible printmaking techniques, which allowed for mass production and widespread dissemination of patriotic imagery. The print commemorates President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation of 1863, a landmark executive order freeing enslaved people in Confederate states amid the Civil War. Featuring a portrait of Lincoln—depicted with his signature beard—surrounded by symbolic elements like an eagle and allegorical figures, it evokes themes of liberty and national unity. Tags highlight Lincoln's diverse background as a lawyer, surveyor, soldier, postmaster, boat builder, merchant, and Illinois native, underscoring his everyman rise to the presidency. As a broadside, this print served as public propaganda, blending text from the Proclamation with visual symbolism to rally support for the Union cause. Its place in the Smithsonian collection preserves a snapshot of 19th-century American graphic art, reflecting how prints democratized history and heroism for everyday citizens.