Hand-colored, antisemitic caricature of a Jewish beggar by Fips
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 7.500 inches (19.05 cm) | Width: 5.250 inches (13.335 cm)
Creator(s)
- Fips (Artist)
Biographical History
Phillipp Rupprecht (1900-1975) was born in Nuremberg, Germany. He served in the German Navy during World War I. In 1920, he left Germany for Argentina, where he worked as a waiter and cowboy for several years. In the mid-1920s, he returned to Germany and worked as a cartoonist for the Fränkischen Tagespost, a Socialist newspaper. After drawing a cartoon of the Lord Mayor of Nuremberg, Hermann Luppe, Rupprecht was hired as an illustrator for the antisemitic newspaper Der Stürmer, by Julius Streicher, publisher of the paper and a regional leader of the Nazi party. While there, Rupprecht worked under the pen name Fips and became known for his variations on the antisemitic stereotype of the bearded, bulging eyed, large-nosed Jew. In 1938, he illustrated the antisemitic children's book, Der Giftpilz (The Poison Mushroom), published by the Stürmer publishing house. He joined the German Navy in 1939, but was released to create propaganda for the Nazi party. Rupprecht stayed at the paper until the last issue was published on February 22, 1945, and his career ended with the defeat of Germany in May. After the war, Rupprecht was captured by the United States Army and held in the 7th Army Internee Camp #74 in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He was put on trial as part of the de-Nazification process and sentenced to six years hard labor. Rupprecht was released from Eichstätt prison on October 23, 1950. He married twice, had four children, and worked in Munich as a painter and decorator until his death.
Archival History
The caricature was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1992.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Scope and Content
Hand-colored caricature of a Jewish man drawn by Philipp Rupprecht (Fips), and likely cut out from an advertisement for Der Stürmer. Der Stürmer (The Stormtrooper) was a viciously anti-Jewish newspaper published in Germany from 1923-1945 by Julius Streicher, an early Nazi Party member. Der Stürmer thrived on scandal, and published sensational stories of Jews committing disgusting, evil acts. It was also infamous for its antisemitic cartoons created by artists such as Philipp Rupprecht (who used the penname Fips), one of the Nazi’s preeminent propaganda creators. His illustrations portrayed Jews as heartless and cruel, and featured discriminatory images of Jews with exaggerated facial features, and misshapen bodies. Rupprecht also illustrated the antisemitic children’s book Der Giftpilz (The Poisonous Mushroom). Following the end of World War II in 1945, Rupprecht was put on trial and sentenced to ten years of hard labor of which he only served five years.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Hand-colored caricature of a disheveled Jewish man in three-quarter profile with a large, hooked nose and hairy face, printed on a rectangular piece of tan newsprint. The man is walking, wearing a long, purple coat with yellow buttons and rectangular patches at the bottom and on his elbow. At his hip, a pink pocket-lining is sticking out of the coat. He is also wearing a top hat and gray boots with holes in the toes. He carries a large, golden-yellow sack over his right shoulder, while holding a bright pink umbrella under his left arm. The man’s ears, nose, hands, and toes are colored pink, while the rest of his face is left white. In the top left corner is a black rectangular logo, featuring the face of a stereotypical Jewish man, surrounded by a Star of David. Below the logo are two lines of German text. The page has a long crease across the top and several small tears along the edges.
People
- Streicher, Julius, 1885-1946.
- Fips, 1900-1975.
Subjects
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Lithography, German--20th century.
- Jews--Caricatures and cartoons.
- Anti-Jewish propaganda--Germany.
- Nazi Propaganda--Germany.
- Antisemitism--Economic aspects.
- Nuremberg (Germany)
Genre
- Cartoons (Commentary)
- Object
- Art