Monday, June 30, 2014

Satirical maps of the "Great War" (WW1), 20th Century

Karte von Europa im Jahre 1914
Meaning of this map: Russia wants to swallow up everything. England hides its fleet under the skirt of home, the dog Ireland is at its back, looks ready to attack (?). King Oskar of Sweden looks “intently” at Russia. France bravely retreats, while Spain devotes itself to sweet “idleness.” Regarding Spain, most of the times on other maps I noticed that the frequent representation is a bullfighter. German and Austria-Hungary strike solid German blows on all sides. Montenegro – a pack of lice. Serbia – a pack of swine! The King of Derazzo.
Albania – abandons its people. Greece and Turkey are eager to devour one another. Ferdinand of Bulgaria would also like to have a share.
 


In 2014 the world will mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. I post here a brief letter I've found at site 1914.org
 
"I am for the front on Tuesday, but if you write and say I am only seventeen it will stop me from going. Don’t forget." 

This note was sent by soldier Stephen Brown (5th Bn, King’s Royal Rifle Corps) to his mother, April 1915. He was killed at Ypres a month later. I could obtain his complete correspondence at telegraph.uk website (direct link provided).

Never a war changed the world like 1st WW or "Great War" did. I wont post here nothing about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo and all consecuences about the serbian campaign. Wikipedia has an excellent article with basicly all you need to know about the WW1 (links provided on this same parragraph).

The post today is about a 20th C. collection of satirical and, -in my opinion- cruel maps designed to introduce hate and pro-war interest, that impressed me a lot first time I saw it: With the start of hostilities in 1914, the satirical press threw its full weight behind the German war effort and in aid of a fatherland under threat. Even pens that had been known for their criticism of the government followed the call by Emperor Wilhelm II for a “holy union”, and  depicted the war as a defense of German culture against the onslaught of barbarism. (Note: I could read same idea on Ian Kershaw's A. Hitler biography. This was his basic argumentation also in "Mein Kampf")

In their initial enthusiasm, they promoted the image of a ridiculous, incompetent, rude and cruel enemy that would almost instantly disintegrate. Russia, and to a lesser degree England, is the target of its most scathing insults; France is pictured as following the others’ lead and sometimes even as a victim of her alliances.

I forgot to mention source :: collection is online available at University of Holland website (direct link provided here "Kaartencollectie")


Hark! Hark! The Dogs Do Bark! 1914
Title: "Hark! hark! The dogs do bark!". Dogs of War are loose in Europe, and a nice noise they are making! Meaning of this Map: By the fine unwritten law of Dogdom big dogs never attack little dogs. There are, however, scallywags in every community, and, egged on by the Dachshund for private ends, the Mongrel started bullying a little Servian. There was a very game little Belgian Griffon, and there was a great big French Poodle, a smart dandified fellow, and there was a Bulldog (Bulldog has a habit of sleeping with one eye open, and, when he is roused, he grips and won't let go). Dachshund started by attacking the Belgian Griffon. even the little Servian gave the Austrian Mongrel some nasty bites, and so did a neighbour of his named Monty. Italia dissembled her love in the strangest way, and asserted that War was a luxury which she could not afford just now.

Europa im Jahre 1915
Overview of European Spring, 1915 (by Lucas Gräfe; Hamburg, AK [pub.], 1915)
 
Sommerschau über Europa 1915
Summer Review of Europe, 1915 (by Lucas Gräfe; Hamburg, AK [pub.], 1915)

Satyrische Europa Karte 1914
Meaning of this map: The Russian bear sprays insect repellant on the Russians and holds out his empty wallet while roaring “hunger.” Finland, chained to Russia, tries to cut itself free. The Russian is under fire from Austria and Germany. His uniform shows a tear in East Prussia and Lithuania. The Austrian duly scratches the Serbs. Rumania is at the ready. Bulgaria is still wounded from the Balkan War. The Turk awakes, he looks at his harem woman. Norway and Sweden are neutral, Denmark supplies butter. Italy has both feet in one boot and remains neutral. The German pushes Belgium out of the way with the elbow and is at Franzi’s head. Bordeaux becomes an asylum for the homeless. The victories of the English and French are false, like the snakes that proclaim them.

European Revue (Kill That Eagle) 1914
Meaning of this map: Of great collecting value! European revue. Title: Kill that eagle. [..] This satirical map of Europe is 'a document proving the perfidy of Albion'. Whilst German assets and blood fight for the fatherland, England regards the war merely as business by saying sneeringly: 'Business as usual' [..]. The map reproduces the English original exactly. The few words are transposed into German for better understanding. The price of this map in London is 1 shilling - 1 mark. Reproduced by a German printer without kind permission from our English cousin, as an eternal memento. Printer and Publisher W. Nölting, Kaiser Wilhelmstr. 93. HAMBURG 36

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Liberal Arts, 16th Century



"The areas of secular education considered liberal have their foundation in classical antiquity and were codified in the medieval period into a distinct set of seven, with two subdivisions. The upper division, the quadrivium, consists of Geometry, Arithmetic, Astronomy, and Music; while the lower division, or trivium, is made up of Grammar, Logic (or Dialectic), and Rhetoric. [..]

The tradition of artistic representation of the Seven Liberal Arts may be traced to the fifth-century work of Martianus Capella; his allegorial treatise, 'De Nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii Libri Novem' ['Satyricon'], describes the Seven Liberal Arts as personified female figures with specific attributes and companions." [source]

Arithmetica -- Haec contemplandis numeris - Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (Folger)
Arithmetic, a woman, seated at a table inscribes a tablet accompanied by an elderly woman and two male scholars; the elderly woman stands over her and instructs her; her dress is numbered "1234..." and two tomes are labelled "ABRAHAM" and "PYTHAGORAS".
Geometria -- Vestigare geometriae intervalla - Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (Folger)
Geometry, a woman, uses compasses to measure the globe watched closely by two male figures; various measuring devices are in the foreground together with academic tomes.
Astrologia -- Astrorvm Uraniae Cursus - Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (Folger)
Astrology, a winged female personification, leans besides a globe with zodiacal star symbols; on the ground are various scientific instruments and sundials etc; an eagle spreads its wings and stands besides a pile of books labelled "ANAXIMENES" etc.
Dialectica -- Vti hominem ratione - Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (Folger)
Dialectic, a woman, seated on a wicker chair, engages in conversation with an elderly philosopher; she rests her feet on a stack of tomes labelled "ARISTOTELES" etc; a bird sits on her head, an eel is wrapped around her arm and a frog sits on an upright tome.
Grammatica -- Grammatica os tenerum pueri - Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (Folger)
Grammar, a seated old woman, teaches a young boy standing besides her the rudiments of reading and writing; she holds a long staff, leans over and points to the pages of the book held by the youth; her dress has the letters of the alphabet; in a school room with students and various labelled scholarly tomes.
Rhetorica -- Rhetoricae gratos sermoni -  Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (BM)
Rhetoric, a seated woman, holding a caduceus, leans over and engages with a seated man writing on a tablet; an elderly man with a long beard places his hands on the shoulder of the younger scholar; two birds, including a parrot, sit on a pile of books labelled "CICERO" etc on the ground.
Musica -- Concentum inter se - Cornelis Cort 1565 (Cock, Floris) (Folger)
Music, a woman, sits at a harpsichord; another female plays a lute and two youths embraced by an elder sing and hold tablets; a man sits at right and plays on a lute and the ground is strewn with instruments; more instruments hang from the wall, including a bagpipe and trombone


The allegorical mannerist images above were engraved by Cornelis Cort (after Frans Floris) and published in Antwerp in 1565 by Hieronymous Cock. Available at Folger Shakespeare Library Image Collection [homepage]

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Book of the Hunt, 15th Century

 


Attributed to an anonymous Burgundian illuminator known as the Master of Girart de Roussillon, The Book of King Modus and Queen Ratio (after 1455) is a extense and luxury illustrated treatise on hunting. Who was King Modus? - The author patterned this work like the Greek philosophers, as a dialogue between a student and his teacher conversing on the hunting profession. The teacher in this case is embodied in the allegorical figure of King Modus.

 


 


 


Codex is illustrated with a total of 56 lively miniatures, that deserve special mention. Their rich golden decoration is not only intended to illustrate the instructions of the text but also to glorify the pompous lifestyle of the nobility. They intrigue us with a certain liveliness, the expert representation of animals and the authenticity of the luxurious vestments. The close association with nature was intended by the illuminators who attached great importance to authenticity in their depictions. The book thus displays the pinnacle of Flemish art in a work made for a prince of the high nobility." [source :: Adeva Fine Manuscripts]

Direct link to this codex & others related::