On the Way to Araby!
date: label: Date made
content: 1836
name: label: depicted
content: Jackson, Andrew
label: depicted
content: Van Buren, Martin
label: depicted
content: Biddle, Nicholas
label: maker
content: Robinson, Henry R.
label: maker
content: Clay, Edward Williams
notes: label: Description (Brief)
content: This 1836 print is a commentary on President Andrew Jackson’s decision to revoke the charter for the Second Bank of the United States, and his proclamation that he would rather live in a country like Arabia than one where an institution as powerful as the bank existed. In this print, Jackson is running in fear from the “many headed monster” being held by foe Nicholas Biddle, President of the Second National Bank of the United States. Biddle was constantly sparring with Jackson over the bank, and the tension between them was a predominant feature of the years long “Bank War.” Jackson’s successor Vice President Martin Van Buren is depicted as having fallen at his feet, holding his “mantle.” It is marked with phrases such as “no monopoly,” “appropriation,” specie currency,” and “deposits.” Van Buren’s “hope [that] it will fit,” symbolizes how he will continue Jackson’s agenda and legacy if elected in the Election of 1836.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The lithographer of this print is Edward Williams Clay (1799-1857). Clay was a caricaturist, engraver, lithographer, and etcher, as well as a portrait painter. Before his career as an artist, Clay was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar, but quickly left to pursue art in New York City. After losing his eyesight he retired from art and held minor office in Delaware before his death in December of 1857.
label: Description (Brief)
content: The publisher of this print is Henry R. Robinson (1827-1877). Robinson worked in New York, and had a store to sell his prints. In 1842, he was arrested for selling obscene pictures and books leading to the September 28, 1842 court case, People vs H. R. Robinson found in the District Attorney Indictment Papers, Municipal Archives. He was politically affiliated with the anti-Jackson Whig party which was made obvious by the wig silhouette used in 1838 as an advertising logo for his shop.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Economy
label: Subject
content: Political Caricatures
label: Subject
content: U.S. National Government, executive branch
label: Subject
content: Glasses
label: Subject
content: Chronology: 1830-1839
label: Subject
content: State Government
label: Subject
content: Architecture, Commercial Buildings
label: Subject
content: Communication, newspapers
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Peters Political Prints
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content: Art
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content: Domestic Furnishings
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Harry T. Peters "America on Stone" Lithography Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: DL.60.3432
label: catalog number
content: 60.3432
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Lithograph
label: Object Type
content: Lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: image: 9 1/2 in x 14 1/2 in; 24.13 cm x 36.83 cm