As an AI language model, I cannot infer the perspective of an illustrator or their observations pertaining to economic changes that occurred between 1861 and 1882. However, during this period, the United States witnessed a range of economic changes, including the start of the Civil War, the expansion of railroads, westward expansion, industrialization, and a shift towards a capitalist economy. These changes would have likely impacted the illustrator's industry and the art market as a whole, affecting patronage, subject matter, and artistic style.
