The battle of Malvern Hill, Va. July 1st 1862 1862

This print of the Battle of Malvern Hill was produced by Currier and Ives, the New York based printmaking firm, in the second half of the 19th century. The image depicts the Union Army’s 26th New York Volunteers charging into battle and capturing Confederate colors. Prints like these were popular at the time because they offered a mass-produced and easily accessible way for people to visualize and understand the events of the Civil War. Currier and Ives operated as a business, so their prints tend to reflect a pro-Union perspective that would appeal to their Northern audience. However, the focus on battle scenes also reflects a broader cultural interest in military history and heroism. To get a more complete understanding of the print, research into Currier and Ives’ business practices, the social and political context of the Civil War, and the reception of such images by the public are all essential historical resources. It highlights the role of art as a shaper, as well as a reflector, of social attitudes.