The Old Print Shop

Halt, Cossack! - So Far, But no Farther!

  • ARTIST: Thomas Nast

  • PUBLISHER: Published by Harper's Weekly. June 29, 1878.

  • MEDIUM: Wood engraving,

    DATE: 1878.

  • EDITION SIZE: Image size 13 1/8 x 19 3/4" (33.1 x 50.2 cm).

  • DESCRIPTION: This political cartoon was likely made in reference to the Russo-Turkish War (April 1877 – March 1878), which had only recently ended at the time of publication. The war, despite outward claims to Europe, was religiously based - the Tsar wanted to free Turkey's Christians from the "tyranny" of Islam. The artist, Thomas Nast, made several anti-Russia, anti-religious warfare, illustrations during the war period (one of which likened the Russian Tsar to a Crusader, a notation that is better understood when it is taken into account that Rome and Catholicism were largely hated in America). <br><br> In this cartoon Athena is seen guarding the ancient Greek temple of "Civilization" from the Russian barbarians (a centaur-Cossack). In the distance, on the right, birds fly ominously over a burning mosque. On the ground, at the centaur's feet, is broken moon-staff. Both represent the barbaric war Catholic Russia had recently waged on the Islamic Ottoman empire. The Greek temple behind Athena reads "Civilization: Political, Progress, Constitutional Government," all of which further attack Russia because Athena will not allow their religious conquest to pass any further into Europe.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • CONDITION: Good condition.

  • REFERENCE: