The American Revolution was fought not just with muskets but also through works of art that articulated revolutionary ideals. Zara Anishanslin (University of Delaware) will join Douglas Fordham (UVA Art) to discuss her book The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution.

Join us for the Karsh Institute of Democracy’s “Touchstones of Democracy” series, which explores key events, places, thinkers, and texts that inform the history and principles of democracy.

This year, leading up to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in July 2026, the event series will showcase recent books that expand and deepen our understanding of the era of the American Revolution—and illuminate the connections of that period to the present.

All 2025–2026 Touchstones events will be held from 12:00 to 1:15 PM at UVA’s Bond House, with lunch available at 11:30 AM. The series is produced by the Karsh Institute of Democracy in partnership with the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.