The Old Print Shop

Natural History. "Statesman." "I aimed at HIM."

  • ARTIST: Thomas Nast

  • PUBLISHER: Published by Harper's Weekly. March 2, 1878.

  • MEDIUM: Engraving,

    DATE: 1878.

  • EDITION SIZE: Image size 10 5/8 x 9 1/16" (27 x 23.1 cm).

  • DESCRIPTION: The Long Depression was in full gear in 1878. The middle and lower class were suffering under its weight, yet the wealthy were flourishing. Here, a wolf with a ribbon of 'Political Communism,' has "accidentally" shot the middle class with the lethal arrows of 'Income Tax' and '90 cent silver $.' The corpse of the beaver, bearing the collar of 'industral [sic] Intelligence,' lays in front of three tombstones - 'Homes of our industrious Middle Class,' 'Savings of hard labor,' and 'small capital.' Atop the hill is the snickering rhino of 'Wealth,' who stands guard of his safe, free of political arrows. In the background is a venting volcano with the words, 'Will break out some day,' written into its stone as if to elude to the threat of national devastation.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • CONDITION: Good condition, save a few small repaired tears in the margins and a minor water stain in the lower left margin.

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