Thomas Nast was born in humble circumstances on September 27, 1840 Landau Born the son of a Bavarian military musician. Like many from the Palatinate, the family immigrated to America in 1846, daring to make a fresh start. The emigrants had nothing but a few possessions, a determined will to survive and great hope for a better life in the new world.
Especially the “Palatines”, long synonymous with all immigrant Germans, moved westward. More than 150,000 people left the Palatinate for economic and political reasons and dreamed of the “American Dream” of prosperity and success. A New York publisher discovered the 15-year-old's drawing talent and helped him to a brilliant career: Nast became the most famous American cartoonist of the 19th century. His interpretations of the political situation influence the election of presidents and live on in many American symbols. He worked for decades at Harper's Weekly and later tried to become a newspaper publisher. But his years of success are coming to an end and he runs into financial problems. President Theodore Roosevelt appreciated his political acumen and offered him the post of ambassador to Ecuador. After only a few months in office, Thomas Nast died of yellow fever on December 7, 1902.
Own magazine publisher
For decades, Nast was considered the most influential American photojournalist, able to portray contemporary events with objective symbolism. It still seems relevant and current today. The main reason for this is his polished films. The figures of Uncle Sam and Columbia are an integral part of American politics. The Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant are the party symbols for which Nast is famous. They will also be in the 2024 presidential campaign, and would be hard to imagine without.
Some of his cartoons bear striking resemblance to current political events and decisions in the United States. The inauguration of Donald Trump as president exposed the weaknesses of the American system of governance. Weaknesses that were already evident in the 19th century and which Nast constantly illustrates and explains in his caricatures acquire new relevance: for example, after the question of the future of the main parties of the United States, especially the Republican Party, after initially being openly rejected and skeptical, the majority gathered behind Donald Trump and again revealed the weaknesses of the American system of governance.
Corruption was exposed
Nast did not give up the fight with the pen for a democratic America. In the 1870s he faced the biggest challenge of his life, the fight against corruption and greed for power in politics. He was particularly interested in William Marcy Tweed. Its corruption and political arbitrariness were overthrown by the publications of “Harpweek” and Nast.
“Amateur coffee fan. Travel guru. Subtly charming zombie maven. Incurable reader. Web fanatic.”
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