Preparing for Market

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant lithograph *Preparing for Market* (1856), Nathaniel Currier captures the rhythmic energy of rural American life. Created as part of the prolific output from Currier & Ives—pioneers of affordable, hand-colored prints—this graphic arts piece depicts a family on a bustling farm, surrounded by chickens, dogs, horses, and harvest bounty. The detailed scene shows preparations for market day, evoking the self-sufficient world of 19th-century agrarian communities. Currier's lithography technique revolutionized art accessibility, allowing middle-class households to own colorful, narrative images of everyday heroism. Produced during the antebellum era, when westward expansion and farming fueled national identity, the print romanticizes wholesome family labor amid golden fields, reflecting cultural ideals of prosperity and harmony before the Civil War's disruptions. Today, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum (gift of IBM Corporation), this work highlights how prints like Currier's preserved vanishing rural traditions, offering visitors a window into America's pastoral heart. Gaze closely at the lively animals and determined figures—they embody resilience and community spirit!