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Artist/Maker
Thomas Nast
(American, born Germany, 1840 - 1902)
Datepublished June 4, 1892
MediumLithograph
DimensionsComposition: 8 1/8 × 6 5/8 in. (20.6 × 16.8 cm)
Sheet: 12 in. × 9 1/2 in. (30.5 × 24.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of the artist's son
Object number1944.1.49
Not on view
DescriptionThis cartoon depicts an elephant cleaning itself in a pool of water. An inset image at the upper left shows a "Dear Elephant" standing atop five blocks formed into the shape of an arch. The blocks each read "Platt," "Dudley," "Quay," "Clarkson," and "Blaine," and in the arch appear the words "This support will not prove substantial." In the primary image, the arch has collapsed under the weight of the elephant, who is spilled into the water. The caption reads "Now for a Good Wash - it is Necessary: The Bridge of Sighs - Crumbled - Elephant is in Clean Water - At Present." This is a direct jab to the Republican Party, critiquing that Platt, Clarkson, Blaine, Dudley, and Quay are “political bosses” that cannot be relied on to run the party. This is likely a reference to a previous work by Nast titled “Platt. Clarkson. Blaine. Dudley. Quay.” that he made in 1892, the same year as “Now for a Good Wash it is Necessary”. In the former, the bridge is crumbled and the building blocks of the bridge have detached from each other. The elephant is in the water.
Collections
Additional Details
Provenance
1943: Hamilton College, by gift of Mabel Nast Crawford and Cyril Nast;
? - 1943: Thomas Nast family (Mrs. Thomas Nast, Thomas Nast Jr., Mabel Nast Crawford, and Cyril Nast), presumably by gift or inheritance from the artist.
? - 1943: Thomas Nast family (Mrs. Thomas Nast, Thomas Nast Jr., Mabel Nast Crawford, and Cyril Nast), presumably by gift or inheritance from the artist.
Signature
Signed and dated in stone at lower left: "Th. Nast / 1892"
Inscribed
Entitled in stone at upper center: NOW FOR A GOOD WASH - IT IS NECESSARY:; inscribed in stone at lower center: THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS - CRUMBLED. / ELEPHANT IS IN CLEAN WATER - AT PRESENT.
Antonio da Trento
Date: c. 1527-1531
Medium: Chiaroscuro woodcut from two blocks (pale green and black)
Object number: 1992.24
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 20, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.299
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 6, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.297
Thomas Nast
Date: published December 5 , 1863
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.47
Toyokuni III
Date: 1852
Medium: Polychrome woodblock print on two sheets of paper
Object number: 1994.92
Thomas Nast
Date: published June 26, 1875
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.288
Henry Moore
Date: 1969 (published 1970)
Medium: Etching
Object number: 1988.21
Thomas Nast
Date: published December 5, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.263
John Baptist Jackson
Date: 1743
Medium: Chiaroscuro woodblock print
Object number: 1994.87
Nicolas LeSueur
Date: 1725-40
Medium: Chiaroscuro woodblock print
Object number: 1994.88
Katsushika Hokusai
Date: 1835
Medium: Woodblock print
Object number: 2018.8.1
Edouard Nels
Date: 1898-1913
Medium: Albumen print
Object number: S2018.2.739