Mose, Lize & Little Mose Going to California
ca. 1849
Medium
Hand-colored lithograph
Dimensions
sheet: 12 5/8 x 16 11/16 in. (32 x 42.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
Accession Number
54.90.1360
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the bustling mid-19th-century world of American popular culture, *Mose, Lize & Little Mose Going to California (ca. 1849) captures the adventurous spirit of the California Gold Rush. This hand lithograph depicts the iconic Bowery B'hoys—Mose, his wife Lize, and their Little Mose—embarking on a westward journey in a horse-drawn carriage. Frank Chanfrau, the who famously portrayed the rough-and-tumble firefighter Mose on New York stages, collaborated with lithographer Henry R. Robinson to immortalize these larger-than-life characters from urban melodramas. The image humorously transplants these tough Manhattanites into the national frenzy of '49er fever, symbolizing the era's mix of optimism, bravado, and social mobility. Lithography, a revolutionary printing technique perfected in the 19th century, allowed for affordable, mass-produced images that brought theater and caricature to everyday audiences. Hand-coloring added vivid life to the black-and-white stone transfer, enhancing the satirical flair and making the print a coveted souvenir. Measuring 12 5/8 x 16 11/16 inches, it reflects the vibrant print culture of New York, where Robinson's firm thrived on timely topical scenes. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Edward W. C. Arnold Collection, this work offers a window into how Americans imagined reinvention amid gold rush mania, blending class satire with aspirational escapism.
About the Artist
Frank Chanfrau|Henry R. Robinson (American|American) · 1824 |1800 –1884 |1850
American, New York 1824–1884 Jersey City, New Jersey|American, died 1850