Details
Title The happy negro. [graphic] / J.F.
Publisher London: Published by William Holland, No. 11 Cockspur Street
Date [August] 1 1810
Physical Description 1 print: hand-colored aquatint; sheet 43 x 27 cm (17 x 10.5 in.)
Description Satiric print depicting a "happy" enslaved family in a tropical setting, probably the West Indies. Shows an enslaved man strumming his banjo seated next to his wife and child near palm trees and a flower bush. A dog sleeps near its bowl at their feet and grass-roofed huts are visible in the background. Also contains prose below the image comparing and contrasting the white man's and enslaved person's joys and cares. The white man "full of care, has heart no light, he great deal want, he little get, he sorry, so he fret" whereas the negro 'hub no care, heart is light, me tink not what tomorrow bring, me happy so me sing."
Notes Holland published a series of cartoons critical of the decadence of the West Indies plantation society of the early 19th century.
Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Lib. Company. Annual report, 2005, p. 62-65.
Purchase 2005.
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
RVCDC
Subject Banjos.
Plantation life -- West Indies.
Racism in popular culture.
Slaves -- West Indies -- Social conditions.
Slaveholders -- West Indies -- Attitudes.
Enslaved people -- West Indies.
Enslaved people -- Satire -- West Indies.
Enslaved women -- West Indies.
Enslavers -- West Indies.
Enslavers -- West Indies -- Attitudes.
Slaves -- West Indies.
Slaveholders -- West Indies.
Genre Aquatints -- Hand-colored -- 1800-1810.
Political cartoons -- Hand-colored -- 1800-1810.
Printer Holland, William, active 1782-1817, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| political cartoons - 1808-Hap [P.2005.28.3]
Accession number P.2005.28.3