First meeting of Washington and Lafayette 1876

This print of "The First Meeting of Washington and Lafayette" was made by Currier and Ives, a New York City printmaking firm, in 1876. It depicts a scene from nearly a century earlier, the meeting of two important figures of the American Revolution. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The handshake is a symbolic gesture, signifying unity and cooperation between the American and French forces. The setting, a formal interior, suggests the importance of the event and the high social status of the individuals involved. Made in 1876, the print speaks to the social conditions of its own time. As America celebrated its centennial, images like this reinforced patriotic sentiments and national pride. It's important to consider who is included, and notably excluded, from this narrative of nationhood. Historians use a variety of research resources, such as letters, diaries, and official documents, to understand the social and institutional contexts in which art is made and consumed. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional contexts.