On to Liberty 1867

Theodor Kaufmann’s painting "On to Liberty" from 1867 depicts a group of formerly enslaved people, likely from the American South, making their way towards freedom. This powerful and poignant scene, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, uses a dramatic composition to draw the viewer's attention to the figures, their determination, and their journey towards a new life. The figures, both adults and children, are rendered with realistic detail and imbued with a sense of hope and resilience, creating a moving testament to the strength and perseverance of the formerly enslaved.