Letting The Cat Out of The Bag
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.86.67
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1860 by German-born artist Louis Maurer, "Letting The Cat Out of The Bag" is a lively political print that captures the turbulent presidential election year. As a print, the work could reach wide audiences through newspapers and shops, making complex political debates accessible to everyday viewers. Maurer’s detailed rendering brings together prominent figures including Abraham Lincoln, William Henry Seward, Horace Greeley, and Charles Sumner, each identified by profession and region. The composition uses the familiar idiom of the title to suggest a secret being revealed, with the ...