Lincoln Thomas Nast Cartoon

[frontrank2]

Title: Victory and Death; Our Martyred President

Year: 1865

Creator: Thomas Nast, Harpers

Description: This bittersweet double-page cartoon by Thomas Nast mourns the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, which came just one week after the Union victory in the Civil War.

The large image dominating the center of the cartoon shows Victory as a grieving soldier (wearing the mail of ancient times) who reverently knees before the skeletal specter of Death. The poem reminds viewers that even in victory "Death levels all things in his march."

In the cartoon's upper-left and upper-right insets, a white and black family, respectively, mourn Lincoln's death. The white patriarch reads the Bible from his seat of authority, while the women weep openly and the elder son shields his face in despair. The black patriarch, kneeling in front of his chair, leads his family in prayer for the Great Emancipator.

In the lower-center inset, Columbia cries upon the shoulder of Europa. That image is flanked by insets contrasting Victory, in which newspapers announce the Union's military triumph (the cartoon's only joyful scene), and Death, in which soldiers escort Lincoln's coffin past a poster bearing the late president's pledge of "malice toward none" and "charity toward all."

You can read the full text at: www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org

 

[frontrank2]

 

[unionblue]

View attachment 38928

frontrank2,

Always liked Thomas Nast's cartoons of the period.

Thanks for posting them here.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[godofredus]

Nast's cartoons (really they should be called artwork) are wonderful but has anyone ever done an analysis of how his opinion (and probably the opinion of the Republicans) changed over the course of reconstruction? From the heroic black soldier who deserves the vote to this: http://blackhistory.harpweek.com/7Illustrations/Reconstruction/ColoredRule.htm

Colored Rule in a Reconstructed (?) State

March 14, 1874, page 229
view enlargement


back to Reconstruction page

Expired Image Removed

 

[CSA Today]

View attachment 38736
Title: Victory and Death; Our Martyred President

Year: 1865

Creator: Thomas Nast, Harpers

Description: This bittersweet double-page cartoon by Thomas Nast mourns the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, which came just one week after the Union victory in the Civil War.

The large image dominating the center of the cartoon shows Victory as a grieving soldier (wearing the mail of ancient times) who reverently knees before the skeletal specter of Death. The poem reminds viewers that even in victory "Death levels all things in his march."

In the cartoon's upper-left and upper-right insets, a white and black family, respectively, mourn Lincoln's death. The white patriarch reads the Bible from his seat of authority, while the women weep openly and the elder son shields his face in despair. The black patriarch, kneeling in front of his chair, leads his family in prayer for the Great Emancipator.

In the lower-center inset, Columbia cries upon the shoulder of Europa. That image is flanked by insets contrasting Victory, in which newspapers announce the Union's military triumph (the cartoon's only joyful scene), and Death, in which soldiers escort Lincoln's coffin past a poster bearing the late president's pledge of "malice toward none" and "charity toward all."

You can read the full text at: www.abrahamlincolnsclassroom.org

And it was this cheerful soul who popularized Santa Claus in this country.

 

[Greg Taylor]

He was a political cartoonist. As such his work must be judged in that context.

 

[Cumpston1862]

This is entirely from a high school history class and I cannot recall the teacher or the discussion but I do recall she said the term "nasty" came about because of Thomas Nast. She said that he had a reputation for inciting people with his cartoons and because of this something that was deemed vengeful, mean or hurtful was termed "nasty".

 

[caller]

This is entirely from a high school history class and I cannot recall the teacher or the discussion but I do recall she said the term "nasty" came about because of Thomas Nast. She said that he had a reputation for inciting people with his cartoons and because of this something that was deemed vengeful, mean or hurtful was termed "nasty".

Etymology is one of the things I have a passion for, so as a history teacher, this seemed a bit far fetched. Alas, according to Merriam Webster's website, the first known use of "nasty" is the 14th century. Too bad you don't recall the teacher so you could let them know to stop using the cute but untrue story.

 

[Cumpston1862]

Etymology is one of the things I have a passion for, so as a history teacher, this seemed a bit far fetched. Alas, according to Merriam Webster's website, the first known use of "nasty" is the 14th century. Too bad you don't recall the teacher so you could let them know to stop using the cute but untrue story.

14th century...that's interesting. And it had the same meaning?

I would be hesitant to flatly deny her information as words and their original meanings seem to change and get reinvented through the passage of years. But I would certainly want to see where she got this information. Something many of us don't consider to ask at 15-16 years old unfortunately.

 

[caller]

14th century...that's interesting. And it had the same meaning?

I would be hesitant to flatly deny her information as words and their original meanings seem to change and get reinvented through the passage of years. But I would certainly want to see where she got this information. Something many of us don't consider to ask at 15-16 years old unfortunately.

Perhaps his name re-influenced the use of the term or was an appropriate connection for the period, but it seems that the meaning hasn't changed much. (It is, however, a great way to get kids to recall the impression some had of the Nast cartoons.)
Your point about the changing of the word is a good one. It is amazing how words (just as images can be) are co-opted and the meanings changed.

nasty (adj.) Expired Image Removed
c.1400, "foul, filthy, dirty, unclean," of unknown origin; perhaps [Barnhart] from Old French nastre "miserly, envious, malicious, spiteful," shortened form of villenastre "infamous, bad," fromvilein "villain" + -astre, pejorative suffix, from Latin -aster.

Alternative etymology [OED] is from Dutch nestig "dirty," literally "like a bird's nest." Likely reinforced in either case by a Scandinavian source (compare Swedish dialectal naskug "dirty, nasty"), which also might be the source of the Middle English word. Of weather, from 1630s; of things generally, "unpleasant, offensive," from 1705. Of people, "ill-tempered," from 1825. Noun meaning "something nasty" is from 1935. Related: Nastily; nastiness.

 

[Cumpston1862]

Perhaps his name re-influenced the use of the term or was an appropriate connection for the period, but it seems that the meaning hasn't changed much. (It is, however, a great way to get kids to recall the impression some had of the Nast cartoons.)
Your point about the changing of the word is a good one. It is amazing how words (just as images can be) are co-opted and the meanings changed.

nasty (adj.) Expired Image Removed
c.1400, "foul, filthy, dirty, unclean," of unknown origin; perhaps [Barnhart] from Old French nastre "miserly, envious, malicious, spiteful," shortened form of villenastre "infamous, bad," fromvilein "villain" + -astre, pejorative suffix, from Latin -aster.

Alternative etymology [OED] is from Dutch nestig "dirty," literally "like a bird's nest." Likely reinforced in either case by a Scandinavian source (compare Swedish dialectal naskug "dirty, nasty"), which also might be the source of the Middle English word. Of weather, from 1630s; of things generally, "unpleasant, offensive," from 1705. Of people, "ill-tempered," from 1825. Noun meaning "something nasty" is from 1935. Related: Nastily; nastiness.

Thanks! I was hoping you were going to post the originals.

A fascinating study...my compliments.

 

[frontrank2]

As the North finally began to achieve military success in the War, and as it began to look like victory could be achieved, Nast released this rousing illustration.

 

[John Davison]

frontrank2,

Always liked Thomas Nast's cartoons of the period.

Thanks for posting them here.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

A number of years ago the Smithsonian had a comprehensive exhibit of Nast's work. I was lucky to be visiting at the time.

 

[frontrank2]

From the 19th century publication Phunny Phellow. The clever caricature gave the impression that this was Lincoln's political battle to lose, not McClellan's to win. Nast injected condescending humor by drawing Lincoln as a hairy ape and McClellan as a dog. Nevertheless, Lincoln seems to be toying with McClellan. Securely tantalizing his former army general with the tempting morsel of the "White House," the President restrains his political adversary with a firm grip on his tail and taunts, "Don't You Wish You May Get It?"

 

[godofredus]

As the North finally began to achieve military success in the War, and as it began to look like victory could be achieved, Nast released this rousing illustration.
View attachment 39000

This drawing is fantastic. Are the faces actual people? This a high example of the wood carvers art, with the highlights that are very hard to achieve.... Do you have the date for the harpers weekly in which it appeared?

 

[frontrank2]

Unfortunately the website I got that from didn't give the date. You can view a couple of other good ones there:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/Thomas_Nast.htm

 

[Pat Young]

Thomas Nast was of course a German immigrant who helped create some of America's most popular iconography. He was denied admission to New Jersey's Hall of Fame because of his racist depictions of Irish immigrants.

 

[godofredus]

Unfortunately the website I got that from didn't give the date. You can view a couple of other good ones there:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/Thomas_Nast.htm

Thanks...believe it or not I think I found an original on ebay... We will see...
By the way, I accidentally found that site too...
If anyone here enjoys Thomas Nast art that is a great site.

 

[frontrank2]

****************************** Lincoln's Inauguration ***************************
This is the way the North views it...................... and this is how the South views it.

 

[frontrank2]

"Doctor Lincoln's New Elixir of Life," New York Illustrated News, April 12, 1862, 368. Courtesy, New York State Library

30