Framed To Arms by David Gilmore Blythe

Product Overview:

• Proudly handmade in the USA
• Wood frame with mat, glass front, paper duster backing with wire hanger
• Museum quality Giclee digital print using archival paper and inks 
• Standard size frame measures approx. 24" H x 21.5" W
• Poster size frame measures approx. 36" H x 32" W

Product Details:

To Arms by David Gilmour Blythe presents a darkly humorous critique of Union recruitment practices during the Civil War. A solitary man, likely a recruiting officer or opportunist, is seen chalking up cash incentives on a wall beside a bold poster reading "TO ARMS!" - listing the bounties offered by the government and county for able-bodied men. The focus on money - displayed prominently as the man adds up the bonuses - highlights the financial motivations driving enlistment, overshadowing patriotic duty. Set against a dim, grimy brick wall with scattered debris and a shovel, the scene conveys a gritty urban reality. Blythe’s trademark style—part caricature, part realism—uses this simple but potent moment to critique the commodification of service and the moral ambiguity of wartime incentives.