He Died for Me! 1863

Editor: This small print, "He Died for Me!" by Henry Louis Stephens, depicts a fallen Black soldier and the allegorical figure of Columbia. The lithographic technique gives it a stark, almost propagandistic feel. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the lithography itself. It allowed for mass production, distributing this image widely. The labor involved in its creation and dissemination—the printers, distributors—speaks to a strategic effort. How does the materiality of this print influence its message and reception? Editor: That's fascinating. So, you're saying the *way* it was made is just as important as what it depicts? I hadn't thought about it that way. Curator: Precisely. The context of its production—likely during or shortly after the Civil War—and its intended consumption further shape its meaning. Editor: This has given me a new way to approach art. Thanks!