this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2025
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Illustrations of history

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This magazine is for sharing artwork of historical events, places, personages, etc. Scale models and the like also welcome!

Generally speaking, actual photos of a historical item should go to [email protected]

Photos of ruins should go to [email protected]

Photos of the past should go to [email protected]

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Artist is D. D. Ike

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[–] TropicalDingdong 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I was not aware that she carried a long gun.

[–] PugJesus 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Artistic license, I believe. It's very common for Harriet Tubman to be depicted with a long gun, but historically I believe she only carried a pistol and sabre.

[–] TropicalDingdong 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I was looking into this after commenting. I think historically she did carry a rifle at times, and was also historically depicted in period carrying a rifle:

https://archive.org/details/scenesinlifeofha1869brad/page/n9/mode/2up

Page 9 or so.

Another edit: The rifle or long gun depicted doesn't look period appropriate. Looks more like a cartridge shot gun, where in the biography it is clear some manner of carbine.

[–] PugJesus 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

and was also historically depicted in period carrying a rifle:

That's the important part, really. Mythology takes on a life of its own, and that's not always bad. Tote that gun, General Tubman!

[–] jewbacca117 10 points 1 week ago

Now that's even more badass. Of course, I have her pictured in my head killing confederates with a sword in one hand and pistol on the other like she's a space marine.

[–] grue 5 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

Harriet Tubman should be depicted armed more often.