Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912 Buying a substitute in the North during the war

GLC00493.07

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GLC#
GLC00493.07-View header record
Type
Images
Date
circa 1880-1890
Author/Creator
Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912
Title
Buying a substitute in the North during the war
Place Written
s.l.
Pagination
1 etching : b&w Height: 26.1 cm, Width: 34.8 cm

Image comments negatively upon the Northern policy of allowing men to find a substitute to take their place in the draft. Shows a well-dressed and dandified agent with a holstered pistol showing a timid gentleman into a low class pub where the shyster agent is displaying the men the gentleman can buy as a substitute. The door has a sign pasted to it that says "Substitutes for sale supply of ablebodied men always on hand." Volck satirizes the claim that these are "ablebodied men," by depicting lower-class drunks and card players in a pub. Two blacks also appear to among the choices the gentleman can make. A poster of "Honest Abe" is in the background. Size in extent is for the mount. The actual size of the etching is 20.4 x 26.4 cm. Title in pencil on verso.

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