Thomas Nast and Editorial

Cartoons:A brief history

"He has been called, perhaps not with accuracy, but with substantial

justice, the Father of American Caricature.“

Harpers Weekly

Born in Landau, Germany, on September 26 To Joseph Thomas who worked as a trombonist in a military band.

Thomas Nast

In 1846 Thomas, his mother, and his sister immigrated to New York.

His father joined the family in 1849 after finishing his enlistment

In 1854 he began Studying art with Theodore Kaufmann, a German painter who specialized in historical scenes.

In 1855 he began working at the Thomas Jefferson Bryant Gallery of “Christian art” where he also copied the historical paintings in the collection as a part of his artistic training.

By the age of fifteen Thomas was hired as a reportorial artist for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. And by 1856 he had moved to the New York Illustrated News.

In 1860, Thomas began freelance work for the Harper Weekly and by 1862, his work had earned him a full position there.

Thomas Nast became well known for his exceptional use of melodrama, allegory, parody and symbolism. He was a loyal supporter of the republican party, and used his cartoons and art to drive his points home.

Look Familiar?Thomas Nast created the symbols that have been adopted by the republican and democratic parties.

I In 1870 Nast adopted the donkey as a symbol for the Democratic Party.

By 1874 Nast had adopted the elephant as a symbol for the Republican party.

Thomas Nast’s influence has traveled further than the political arena, in 1862 he drew Santa Clause to memorialize the sacrifices by Union during the earliest and darkest days of the Civil War. Nast modeled his Santa Clause after the German St. Nicholas.

One of Nast’s most famous pieces, "Compromise with the South," was published in Harper's Weekly on September 3, 1864 and depicted Columbia weeping at the grave of "Union Heroes in a Useless War“ The image brought Nast instant fame, as it was reproduced and used in the fight to get Lincoln Re-elected.

After his career as an Editorial Cartoonist wound down, Nast went back to his original dream and once

again took up historical painting.

In 1902 Nast accepted an appointment by to become the Commissioned General for the commercial Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil. On December 7th he died of

Yellow Fever.

As one of the most important journalistic figures in history, Thomas Nast helped to influence the laws and policies we see today.