Artwork
Thanksgiving Day, 1860 - The Two Great Classes of Society
Thanksgiving Day, 1860 - The Two Great Classes of Society is an ink print by the Impressionist artist American 19th Century. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A central preacher in a pulpit is flanked by a theatrical tableau above him, underscoring the work’s narrative structure.
The wood engraving titled “Thanksgiving Day, 1860 – The Two Great Classes of Society” presents a triptych of six vignette scenes arranged in two horizontal rows. The upper row juxtaposes a leisurely woman reclining with a fan against a woman reading by a window, while the lower row contrasts a well‑dressed affluent family with a modest, impoverished household. A central preacher in a pulpit is flanked by a theatrical tableau above him, underscoring the work’s narrative structure.
Subject & Meaning
Through its paired compositions, the print visualizes the stark socioeconomic divide of mid‑nineteenth‑century America. The affluent figures are depicted in elegant attire and comfortable surroundings, whereas the poorer family is shown sharing a sparse meal in a humble setting. The inclusion of a preacher and a theater scene suggests moral and cultural commentary, implying that religious and entertainment institutions occupy a middle ground between the two social extremes.
Technique & Style
Executed as a wood engraving, the image relies on fine line work and graduated shading to delineate texture and depth. The artist employs stark contrasts between light and dark to emphasize the differing material conditions of the subjects. Simplified forms and clear outlines convey narrative details efficiently, a hallmark of mid‑Victorian printmaking that allowed for reproducible, widely distributed social commentary.
Context
Created in 1860, the work emerges on the eve of the American Civil War, a period marked by heightened awareness of class tensions and debates over social reform. By framing the scene around Thanksgiving—a holiday associated with gratitude and communal sharing—the engraving critiques the ideal of universal fellowship in a society divided by wealth and poverty.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist painted everyday American life in the 1800s. Look at *Farmhouse in Mahantango Valley*—a quiet, sunlit scene of rural Pennsylvania. *Boy and Girl* shows two children standing close, their faces turned toward…
