Details
Title Clarence Brooks & Co., manufacturers of fine coach varnishes, cor. West & West 12th Sts., New York. [graphic] : "ceticism my belobed bredren. It am something beautiful frinstance it am light and airy - like de bean."
Publisher New York : Donaldson Brothers, Five Points
Date [ca. 1882]
Physical Description 1 print : chromolithograph ; 8 x 12 cm (3.25 x 4.75 in.)
Description Trade card employing an African American Oscar Wilde caricature. Wilde toured the United States in 1882. The Wilde figure, wearing long hair and attired in blue knee breeches with red bows, a red jacket with tails, black socks, and gold slippers lectures to an audience of well-attired African American men and women. He stands at a table adorned with a piece of paper, a candle in a bottle, and a water glass containing a sunflower. To his left, an older frowning man sits with an umbrella between his knees on the stage, while in the first row, two women (one wearing a sunflower on her hat) swoon in front of a lanky man, standing, and looking moonfaced. Clarence Brooks established his varnish business in 1859 as Brooks and Fitzgerald, later Clarence Brooks & Co. In 1881 the firm issued a calendar illustrated with African American caricatures in genre scenes.
Notes Publication date inferred from image content.
Purchased with the Davida T. Deutsch African American History Fund.
Subject Clarence Brooks & Co.
Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900 -- Caricatures and cartoons.
African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons.
African Americans -- Clothing & dress.
Public speaking.
Varnishing industry -- New York (State) -- New York.
African Americans -- Satire.
SP3 Afro-Americana.
Genre Trade cards -- 1880-1890.
Chromolithographs -- 1880-1890.
Satires (Visual works) -- 1880-1890.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| trade card - Brooks [P.2014.35]
Accession number P.2014.35