Woman's Holy War. Grand Charge on the Enemy's Works

Currier and Ives created this print using lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. This artwork champions the temperance movement through a symbolic battle against alcohol. The print's stark contrasts and clear lines, characteristic of lithography, deliver a powerful message. See how a woman, armed with a hatchet and shield, charges on horseback, leading the charge against barrels labeled "Whiskey," "Gin," and "Rum." Each strike of the hatchet, each etched line, embodies the determination of the temperance movement. Barrels, made by laborious processes, are here depicted as symbols of excess, ready to be decimated. Lithography allowed for mass production, aligning with the Temperance League's goal to spread its message widely. "Woman's Holy War" exemplifies how prints, as accessible art forms, engaged directly with social issues, blurring the lines between activism, craft, and artistry.