Peaceable Kingdom 1847

Edward Hicks, a Quaker minister and painter, created "Peaceable Kingdom" with oil on canvas. Hicks painted over 60 versions of this theme, deeply rooted in his spiritual beliefs and the social context of early 19th-century America. Inspired by the Book of Isaiah, the painting envisions a utopian world where animals and humans coexist in harmony. This imagery was especially poignant during a time marked by conflict, westward expansion, and the displacement of Native American populations. The depiction of William Penn's treaty with the Lenape Indians in the background adds a layer of complexity, reflecting both hope for intercultural peace and the harsh realities of colonial history. Hicks himself struggled with the contradictions of his time, torn between his Quaker ideals and the economic realities of a growing nation. "Oh, how lovely it will be to leave this low land of sorrow and pain!" he wrote, capturing the deep yearning for a world free from strife. "Peaceable Kingdom" becomes a powerful expression of longing, a reminder of the potential for harmony amidst ongoing discord.