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Artist/Maker
Thomas Nast
(American, born Germany, 1840 - 1902)
Publisher
The Daily Graphic: An Illustrated Evening Newspaper
(American, 1873 - 1889)
Datepublished August 27, 1883
MediumWood engraving on newsprint
DimensionsComposition: 14 × 12 1/2 in. (35.6 × 31.8 cm)
Sheet: 21 1/8 × 14 in. (53.7 × 35.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of the artist's son
Object number1944.1.15
Not on view
DescriptionThis satiric illustration after a drawing by Thomas Nast published on the front page of The Daily Graphic journal depicts Republican Benjamin Harrison (at the time, a Senator from New York) in a bathtub. Five years later, he would serve as President of the United States (1889-1893) with Levi P. Morton as his running mate, who is referenced in the name of the soap Harrison is holding and whose shadow falls across him. At the time this cartoon was published, Morton was serving as the United States Minister to France. While Harrison was Senator, one of the main issues he dealt with revolved around the budget surplus, given that the country was in an economic depression during the years 1882-85. Democrats wanted to reduce tariffs and government income while Republicans wanted to spend tariffs on infrastructure and veteran’s pensions.
Signs plaster the brick wall behind Harrison, including "88 In the Shade," "Soap! Soap! Our Only Hope," "He won't be happy till he gets in!," "He has it and he is not happy," and "'Trusts are English you know' they are all right - J.G. Blaine." J.G. Blaine is a reference to James Gillespie Blaine, who was a Republican Senator from 1876-1881, and Secretary of State of a brief period in 1881, but was positionless after President Garfield was shot in September of the same year. An inset box contains a quote by John J. Ingalls to the Repbulican Convention in Chicago: "It does not make much difference who is nominated, in my judgement. The candidates will cut a small figure in the fight...With some fellow like Phelps of New Jersey, who could reach the conservative forces of the East and get contributions from manufacturers and Wall Street."
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.
Markings
None noted.
Signature
Not signed.
Inscribed
Inscribed in typeset at upper center: THE DAILY GRAPHIC / AN ILLUSTRATED EVENING NEWSPAPER / 39 & 41 PARK PLACE.; entitled in typeset at lower center: NOW BEGINS THE RUB. / NO TRUST IN SOAP TO WASH OUT SO DARK A SHADOW. / [FROM A DESIGN BY THOMAS NAST.] {sic}; news text continues on verso
Thomas Nast
Date: published June 4, 1892
Medium: Lithograph
Object number: 1944.1.49
Date: c. 883-859 BCE
Medium: Gypsum with remnants of red pigment
Object number: 1868.5
Thomas Nast
Date: published November 28, 1874
Medium: Wood engraving on newsprint
Object number: 2019.13.262
Thomas Nast
Date: 1892
Medium: Ink and graphite on paper with collaged elements
Object number: 1944.1.75
Marsden Hartley
Date: c. 1933-34
Medium: Oil on cardboard
Object number: 1986.18
Mel Bochner
Date: 1990
Medium: Screenprint
Object number: 2003.12.1.4
Eugène Atget
Date: c. 1910, printed later
Medium: Gelatin silver print
Object number: 1982.11