| Method | Lithograph with original hand colour |
| Artist | Hadol, Paul |
| Published | Dressee par Hadol. [Paris, 1870] |
| Dimensions | 340 x 385 mm |
| Notes |
The scarce first English issue of Paul Hadol's seminal Carte drolatique d'Europe pour 1870, a political map of Europe featuring comic figures in place of nations. First issued in French to illustrate the state of diplomatic relations across Europe at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in July 1870, the map was soon reprinted for other audiences, with titles and descriptive texts below adapted into English, Dutch, or German. For this English edition, a new superscript title above the map reads: 'A New Map Designed for 1870.' Two columns of text below the image provide context for the map, English on the left, French on the right. Interestingly, the English text is not a straight translation of the original French, as follows: 'In the above "New Map" a Frenchman typifies in broad colours his conceptions of the National characteristics. The form of each country is given in outline, and a human figure made out of each. Thus England is an old Lady, Scotland her mob-cap, and Ireland a rebellious lap-dog snarling in her face, and angrily trying to break away from her chain. Spain is a fat lady lying on her back, smoking a cigarette, and nearly smothering the small soldier, Portugal, by her weight. Prussia is an unwieldy military monster, half-smothered in his own helmet, but kneeling on an attenuated and sleeping soldier in undress, Austria, while France, as a fierce Zouave, aims a blow at his heart. Prussia's right hand covers Belgium, his left Austria, while Denmark, a small soldier, swaggers with head erect. Russia is a Rag-collector, whose coat is patched, "Crimea" being written on the piece sewn on last. Switzerland is a closed cottage; Turkey in Europe an Oriental crushed by the superincumbent pressure of the other countries; Turkey in Asia a girl smoking a hookah; while Norway and Sweden are turned into a ferocious panther.' 'L'Angleterre, isolee, peste de rage et en oublie presque l'Irlande qu'elle tient en laisse. L'Espagne fume, appuyee sur le Portugal. La France repousse le envahissements de la Prusse, qui avance une main sur la Hollande l'autre sur l'Autriche. L'Italie, aussi, dit a Bismarck: Ote donc tes pieds de la. La Corse et la Sardaigne...un vrai Gavroche qui rit de tout. Le Danemarck, qui a perdu ses jambes dans le Holstein, espere les reprendre. La Turquie d'Europe baille et s'eveille. La Turquie d'Asie aspire la fumee de son narguillhe. La Suede fait des bonds de panthere. Et la Russie ressemble a un croquemitaine qui voudrait remplir sa hotte.' Paul Hadol (1835-1875) was a French caricaturist, illustrator, and satirist, best known for his political cartoons of the Bonaparte family, as well as a seminal comic map of Europe depicting the nations as warring figures. An illustrator of everything from novels to theatre posters, his work was featured in many of the leading periodicals of his day, including Le Gaulois, Le Journal Amusant, Le Monde Comique, L'Eclipse, and La Vie Parisienne. Condition: Vertical and horizontal folds. Some creasing and repaired tears to folds. Minor time toning and ink staining to surface of map. Stationer's inkstamp for 'H. & C. Treacher, Brighton' below inscription. Blank on verso. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £1,200.00 |
| Stock ID | 52843 |