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The drunkards progress, or the direct road to poverty, wretchedness, & ruin
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The drunkards progress, or the direct road to poverty, wretchedness, & ruin
696040 The drunkards progress, or the direct road to poverty, wretchedness, & ruin, 1826 (litho) by Barber, John Warner (1798-1885); 46x29 cm; Gilder Lehrman Collection, New York, USA; (add.info.: Four woodcut panels showing the decline of man through drink: The Morning Dram, The Grog Shop, The Confirmed Drunkard, Concluding Scene. Each panel is accompanied by a written description of each stage of drunkenness. John Barber also compiled the Amistad trial proceedings in " A History of the Amistad Captives", published in 1840.); eGilder Lehrman Institute of American History; American, out of copyright
Media ID 22410122
© Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History / Bridgeman Images
Alcoholic American History Broadside Connecticut Drunk Drunkenness Historical Document New Haven Sheet Temperance
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The Drunkard's Progress - A Sobering Journey through Despair and Ruin
EDITORS COMMENTS
. This photo print, titled "The Drunkard's Progress" offers a poignant visual narrative of the devastating consequences of alcohol abuse in 19th-century America. Created by John Warner Barber in 1826, this lithograph features four woodcut panels that vividly depict the gradual decline of an individual consumed by drink. In the first panel, aptly named "The Morning Dram" we witness a seemingly harmless indulgence as a man takes his first sip of alcohol to start his day. As we progress to "The Grog Shop" the second panel reveals how casual drinking evolves into frequent visits to taverns, leading to social isolation and financial strain. As our protagonist spirals further down into addiction, "The Confirmed Drunkard" presents a harrowing scene where he is depicted as disheveled and destitute. The final panel, appropriately titled "Concluding Scene" portrays the tragic end result—a broken man succumbing entirely to poverty, wretchedness, and ruin. Accompanying each panel are written descriptions that provide additional insight into each stage of drunkenness. This powerful composition serves as both a cautionary tale and an indictment against excessive drinking during this era. Notably, John Warner Barber was not only an artist but also compiled historical documents such as the Amistad trial proceedings—an important contribution to American history. Through this thought-provoking artwork, Barber sheds
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