Political Cartoons: Thomas Nast's Editorial Perspective of Current Events in his Time

Thomas Nast's Intended Audience

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"The Colored Volunteer" and "Light Artillery" and "Girls with Dolls" are companion images in which Nast uses children to illustrate the hopeful impact of the phrase “forever free” of the Emancipation Proclamation. Click through the slideshow to learn more about the two sets of images.


"Girls with Dolls"

Nast painted this diminutive pair of paintings as companion pieces, meaning he painted them as a pair to be displayed together, likely in his family home. Painted during the Civil War, these images may be read as Nast’s opinion on race relations at the time. Each toddler holds a doll of the other girl's race and each doll is dressed to look like the other seated girl.

They are currently on display at Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, and it is the first time these paintings have ever been on public display.

The following two slides are close up images of both girls.