Thomas Nast
Father of American political cartooning
Thomas Nast was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist often considered to be the "Father of the American Cartoon". He was a critic of Democratic Representative "Boss" Tweed and the Tammany Hall Democratic party political machine. Among his notable works were the creation of the modern version of Santa Claus (based on the traditional German figures of Sankt Nikolaus and Weihnachtsmann) and the political symbol of the elephant for the Republican Party (GOP). Contrary to popular belief, Nast did not create Uncle Sam (the male personification of the United States Federal Government), Columbia (the female personification of American values), or the Democratic donkey, though he popularized those symbols by his artwork. Nast was associated with the magazine Harper's Weekly from 1859 to 1860 and from 1862 until 1886.
Relationship Network
Master student
- Theodor Kaufmann Master
Artworks by this artist (433 total)
- Stop, thief!. 1871
- By inflation you will burst — let well enough alone, and don’t make it worse 1873
- Assorted Drawings
- The Greek slave 1870
- The tyrannical military despotism of our Republic 1867
- Election day — 8th November 1864 1864
- Pot and Kettle
- The new board of education 1871
- Wholesale and retail 1871
- The baptism of fire 1871
- Appomattox, April 9th, 1865 1893
- A political ‘tie-up’ 1886
- If the old gang gets in, there will be the devil to pay 1895
- Time, midnight. – Scene, New York City Hall 1868
- War. Military glory 1870
- What are you laughing at; To the victor belong the spoils 1871
- A privilege 1875
- Every public question with an eye only to the public good 1873
- Boom!!! — so near, and yet so far 1880
- The best of friends must part 1877