Political Cartoon of Andrew Jackson and the French King dancing before a crowd of international leaders
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 12.500 inches (31.75 cm) | Width: 18.875 inches (47.943 cm)
Creator(s)
- Edward W. Clay (Artist)
- Henry R. Robinson (Publisher)
- Peter Ehrenthal (Compiler)
Biographical History
The Katz Ehrenthal Collection is a collection of more than 900 objects depicting Jews and antisemitic and anti-Jewish propaganda from the medieval to the modern era, in Europe, Russia, and the United States. The collection was amassed by Peter Ehrenthal, a Romanian Holocaust survivor, to document the pervasive history of anti-Jewish hatred in Western art, politics and popular culture. It includes crude folk art as well as pieces created by Europe's finest craftsmen, prints and periodical illustrations, posters, paintings, decorative art, and toys and everyday household items decorated with depictions of stereotypical Jewish figures.
Archival History
The print was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2016 by the Katz Family.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the Katz Family
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
This lithograph was created in 1836 as a satirical commentary on United States President Andrew Jackson's conflict with French King Louis Philippe over the Treaty of 1831, and the French reparations due to the US. Edward Clay and Henry Robinson, both of whom were prominent political cartoonists and regular critics of Jackson, produced the piece. In this cartoon, the French King has fallen at Jackson’s feet, while trying to keep pace as the President dances to the Cabinet’s music. Jackson celebrates receiving long-sought reparations from a reluctant France by holding aloft a moneybag so that the audience of international leaders can see his success. In addition to demanding reparations, Jackson was also an opponent of entrenched banking interests, an issue alluded to by figure 24’s commentary about “profits.” This figure, Rothschild, could be any of the leading members of the large, prosperous Rothschild family that dominated international banking in Europe. He is depicted with a large nose, thick eyebrows, and hooded eyes; all stereotypical antisemitic features commonly attributed to Jews. Rothschild’s comment furthers the antisemitic stereotype of the greedy Jew who exploits Gentiles for their own economic advantage, and Jewish control of finance. These stereotypes originate from the economic and professional restrictions placed on early European Jews, which forced many into occupations such as money changing or lending and banking. The lithograph is one of more than 900 items in the Katz Ehrenthal Collection of antisemitic artifacts and visual materials.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Lithograph of a political cartoon printed on faded white paper. The cartoon depicts a large crowd watching two men dance to music played by musicians on a raised platform, to the far left. On the platform labeled, “THE CABINET,” three musicians are arranged behind Vice President Martin Van Buren, playing the fiddle. In the foreground to the right of the platform, French King Louis Philippe is dressed in an officer’s military uniform, and he has fallen on his rear end trying to keep up with President Andrew Jackson, who is shown dancing in the center. Jackson raises his arms and holds a sack of “25.000.000 francs” aloft as he mocks the King. In the far right foreground, the Sultan of Turkey holds up a cooked turkey while responding to the Czar of Russia’s comments about wanting a piece. Between the two men, the Pope, wearing the papal tiara, adds his own commentary about turkey. Just behind this group, stands a man identified as Rothschild, with stereotypical Jewish features: thick eyebrows, hooded eyes, and a big nose. The crowd stretches across the background, and consists of 22 international heads of state and high-ranking officials such as William the 4th standing in front of the others, many of whom are commenting on the spectacle. All of the prominent figures in the image are identified by a numeral beside them, which corresponds to a number key printed below the image, beneath the title. The paper is heavily stained, torn, and creased throughout, with many losses along the edges. On the back, there is a handwritten pencil inscription along the right edge and tape repairs along the creases.
back, top, right edge, handwritten, pencil : illegible text
People
- Louis Philippe, King of the French, 1773-1850.
- Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862.
- Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845.
- Robinson, Henry R., -1850.
Subjects
- Antisemitism--United States--History--19th century.
- New York (N.Y.)
- Stereotypes (Social psychology) in art.
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Rothschild family.
- Line dancing.
- War reparations--France.
- Political cartoons--1830-1840.
- Jews--Pictorial works.
- United States.
Genre
- Cartoons (Commentary)
- Object
- Art