That's So! – Life in New York

This print depicts the aftermath of accident caused by a horse-drawn wagon (headed to the left), which has knocked over a couple riding in a small cart pulled by two dogs.The wagon driver --a young workman who has a smoking cigarette clenched in his mouth and wears a white apron over his clothes-- glances disdainfully at the dog cart's passengers. While one dog remains harnessed to the toppled, damaged cart, the man (dressed in a blue cap and blue jacket, tan/yellow pants) is trapped in the wreckage. As the other dog runs away (lower right), the woman,. who was tossed behind the dog cart, sits open-mouthed and stunned on the ground (far right). She wears a green dress with a billowing skirt and a red kerchief. The title is imprinted in the bottom margin, and the series title is imprinted in the top margin.


Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907.