The Lamplighter is a personal favorite of Mort Künstler and his family, as it features his son David as the lamplighter.

After the Revolutionary War and following War of 1812, independence from England had finally been established. The United States would no longer have to fight for independence from foreign domination. Americans could determine their own destiny. By 1830, life in small towns was peaceful and quiet. For many, the new century presented new lights of hope for freedom, economic growth, and prosperity.

The Lamplighter depicts a moment in time in a typical small New England town, yet it could have taken place most anywhere during that time.