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Artist/Maker
Thomas Nast
(American, born Germany, 1840 - 1902)
Dateunknown
MediumWood engraving on paper
DimensionsComposition: 6 1/2 × 6 in. (16.5 × 15.2 cm)
Sheet (Irregular): 11 × 9 1/2 in. (27.9 × 24.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of the artist's son
Object number1944.1.58
Not on view
DescriptionThis illustration depicts a worried man seated at a table, who looks at two snakes emerging from his boots. A sign in the background reads “The protective system must be maintained. Its abandonment has always been followed by general disaster to all interests, except those of the usurer and the sheriff.” This is a direct quote from the 1888 Republican Party Platform, as are the words that appear at the lower right: "The Republican party cordially sympathizes with all wise and well-directed efforts for the promotion of temperance and morality." On the table next to the man sits a bottle and a glass, besides which are the words "The tax upon spirits used in the arts = free." “The protective system” is referring to the protective tariffs, which Republicans believed should be increased, raising price of imported goods and encouraging people to buy domestic goods instead, which also protected domestic jobs. A whisky tax was implemented in 1888.
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
Unsigned
Inscribed
None
Thomas Nast
Date: published June 4, 1892
Medium: Lithograph
Object number: 1944.1.49
Thomas Nast
Date: unknown
Medium: Wood engraving on paper
Object number: 1944.1.59
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 7, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.258
Jamea Richmond-Edwards
Date: 2018
Medium: Pigment print with silkscreen diamond dust and gold foil
Object number: 2020.1
Thomas Nast
Date: published December 5, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.264
Kelli Connell
Date: 2008
Medium: Pigmented inkjet print
Object number: 2012.1.1
Lorna Simpson
Date: 1996
Medium: Portfolio of 21 photogravures with text printed on 30C (300 lbs.) Somerset paper.
Object number: 2016.11
Vanessa German
Date: 2016
Medium: Mixed-media assemblage
Object number: 2016.15
Date: c. 883-859 BCE
Medium: Gypsum with remnants of red pigment
Object number: 1868.5
Date: c. 760 BCE
Medium: Gypsum
Object number: 1868.6