Robert Burns and His Highland Mary 1846

This lithograph, "Robert Burns and His Highland Mary" was made by Nathaniel Currier in the United States during the 19th century. It depicts the Scottish poet Robert Burns with his lover, Mary Campbell, known as Highland Mary. The image creates meaning through sentimental visual codes which spoke to the cultural values of the time. Burns, a figure of working-class origin, had become a symbol of romanticism and national pride, making him a popular subject for art and literature. Currier and Ives capitalized on this popularity by producing affordable prints for a growing middle class eager to consume art with accessible, romantic, and sentimental themes. The portrayal of Burns and Mary in a pastoral setting reinforces the romantic ideal of love found in nature. The work also subtly comments on the evolving social structures of its time, as it celebrates a working-class figure like Burns, thus appealing to a broader audience. To fully understand this work, historians might research the publishing industry of the time, popular literary themes, and the reception of Robert Burns in American culture. Ultimately, the meaning of this print is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was created and consumed.