Moord op Joseph Smith 1844

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print depicting the death of Joseph Smith. The lithograph speaks to the fraught social and political context of the United States in the mid-19th century, marked by religious tensions and vigilante violence. Here, we see a vivid depiction of Joseph Smith's murder. Smith, the founder of Mormonism, is shown falling from a window as he's shot by an angry mob. The image uses the visual codes of martyrdom, even as it likely caters to anti-Mormon sentiment. The architecture and dress place the scene in 19th-century America, a nation then experiencing rapid religious and social change. Mormonism, with its claims of new scripture and unique social practices, was often met with hostility. This print reflects the anxieties and conflicts of a society grappling with religious pluralism and its own violent tendencies. Understanding this image means delving into the complex history of Mormonism, 19th-century American religious movements, and the era’s visual culture. The tools of the historian help us see this artwork as a product of specific social and institutional forces.