Scourge of Humanity Poster of a giant Jew preparing to whip a line of refugees
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 46.500 inches (118.11 cm) | Width: 33.000 inches (83.82 cm)
Creator(s)
- 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 poster 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 poster is one of more than 900 items in the Katz Ehrenthal Collection of antisemitic visual materials.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Offset color lithograph poster in red and black ink on paper with the caricature of a giant, red skinned Jewish man holding a knotted whip over his head. He stands over a partial red globe ready to strike a long, receding line of exhausted refugees marching across the left side. His face is distorted in fury, with clenched teeth, a long hooked nose, beady glaring eyes, and curly sidelocks and widow's peak. He wears a long black robe with a silver Star of David. The figure is outlined by a jagged gash of white and his skin reflects the red background that surrounds him. The Polish cursive caption is on the bottom right. It is adhered to a slightly larger linen backing.
Subjects
- Antisemitism--20th century--Posters.
- World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda--Posters.
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Anti-Jewish propaganda--Posters.
- World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--Posters.
- Nazi propaganda--Posters.
Genre
- Object
- Posters