Black Soldier

Thomas Nast Slavery Pictures

Thomas Nast was a staunch Abraham Lincoln supporter, defender of the Union Cause in the Civil War, and strong opponent to Slavery.  Nast used his art to show the Nation a picture of how things could be.  He created the artwork below on the topic of Slavery, in the days that Slavery was still a thriving institution in our land.  Thomas Nast's dramatic illustrations helped our Nation understand the moral outrage of slavery. The images capture the important events related to Slavery in the 1860's. The collection below contains all Slavery Artwork created by Thomas Nast during the Civil War years. Each leaf is original, and over 135 years old. This artwork was critical in helping to lead our Nation out of the Corrupt and Bankrupt Institution of Slavery, and onto a path of freedom and equality for all men.

Black Civil War Soldier

This is an original 1865 print by Thomas Nast, one of the most popular artists of the 1800's. It is one of the most touching and dramatic of all Civil War Art of Negro Soldiers, and one of my personal favorites. The print shows a Union Buffalo Soldier who lost his leg in the Civil War. He is standing in his Union uniform, and is supported by crutches. He has lost his leg well above his knee. Lady Liberty stands by the soldier, with her hand tenderly placed upon his shoulder. She is looking out of the picture and pointing to him with her other hand, as if to ask, "what shall we do with this man". At the time this print was made, the Nation was struggling to deal with the "freemen". This print presents the perspective that the Negro, along with the white man, had served bravely in the war, and deserved to be fully recognized for his heroism. In the background is a tattered US flag, and inscribed on the flag are battles such as Fort Pillow and Fort Wagner, which were battles in which Buffalo Soldiers played a particularly important role.

"Black Soldier" by Thomas Nast

 (Click on Image for Enlarged View)

At this time, the Nation was grappling with the issues of Citizenship and Suffrage for blacks.  Clearly, Nast is suggesting that Blacks had sacrificed in the Civil War, and deserved both Citizenship, and the Right to Vote.

We created this Thomas Nast Gallery to digitally preserve Nast's Slavery work for posterity.  We are now making the original, 140 year old leafs available for a  $250 contribution to this site.  The proceeds from the sale of the material will enable us to continue to expand the free educational material featured on our site.  Please contact paul@sonofthesouth.net if you are interested in acquiring one of these original leafs.