One of the Effects of the War

One of the Effects of the War

Frank Bellew

Frank Bellew (1828-1888) was born in India but spent most of his career in New York City. He worked with notable publishers at the time such as Harper’s Bazaar, Harper’s Weekly, and Frank Leslie’s Illustrated. In the cartoon “One of The Effects of the War,” published in Harper’s Weekly on February 7, 1863, Bellow suggested that army contractors stole money from the government. The woman in the cartoon, an army contractor’s wife, purchases a diamond ring and gold jewelry with her husband’s ill-gotten gains. The cartoon contrasts the woman's unrefined speech with her refined clothes and surroundings and, in this way, suggests that her riches were undeserved.

"One of the Effects of the War," Harper's Weekly, February 7, 1863.

1863-07-01

Austin Davis

Army Contractor’s Wife. “And say, Young Man, put me up a Diamond Necklass and a couple of Gold Watches along of them other things!”