Peaceable Kingdom 1834

Edward Hicks, a self-taught American folk painter and Quaker minister, created "Peaceable Kingdom." This painting reflects Hicks's deep spiritual beliefs and his complex relationship with the social and political issues of his time. The central theme, inspired by the biblical prophecy of Isaiah, envisions a world where animals and humans live together in harmony. But look closer. In the background is William Penn's treaty with the Lenape Indians. This was done in the spirit of justice and equality, yet this idealized image obscures the historical reality of colonization and displacement of Native American populations. Hicks was wrestling with the contradictions of his own society. "Oh, how can the situation of the poor sons and daughters of Africa be overlooked!" Hicks once exclaimed, reflecting on the moral conflict between his Quaker values and the realities of slavery. The painting serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle to reconcile ideals of peace and justice with the realities of historical and contemporary social injustices.