During the years leading to the Civil War, Richard Caton Woodville used art to depict the political and social turmoil of one of the most challenging periods in American history. Through his paintings, which focus on interior, people-filled scenes, one can view the effects of politics and change in the country through a window into the lives of people that lived during the antebellum period. In pieces such as Politics at an Oyster House, Woodville’s juxtaposition of the ruling class to establishments of low repute makes for a cheeky statement about pols that remains pertinent to the modern political climate. While not so relevant to current times, his other works on display, such as War News from Mexico, give viewers an important insight into the sentiments behind some of the most significant events in American history, from the Mexican-American War to the invention of the telegraph. This side of Woodville’s works will probably not arouse much interest in the casual observer, but they will definitely be of interest to history buffs and fans of Americana alike.

Bo McMillan