Now for a Good Wash it is Necessary

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Photo by John Bentham.
Now for a Good Wash it is Necessary
Photo by John Bentham.
Artist/Maker (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.
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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.
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.
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