America's war with Mexico (1846–48) was as divisive as it was national, and citizens fiercely debated its propriety and outcome. The war, quickly won by a small American force defeating the much larger Mexican army, was permeated by racial differences. Woodville's (American, 1825 – 1855) commentary is set on the porch of the apparently emblematic American Hotel. The eagle's head and half of "American" on the hotel's signboard are cut off, subtly signalling that not all is well. The man at the centre holds a newspaper and reads the exciting news to a group of listeners. Representatives of two groups are excluded from the principal gathering: the non-voting black man and his child on the steps and the old woman who cranes her head through the window to listen.
[Oil on canvas, 68.6 x 63.5 cm]
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