Racist periodical illustration that illustrated the James Fenimore Cooper serial "The Islets of the Gulf, or Rose Budd" in the January 1847 issue of Graham's Magazine. Depicts the scene from the story set during the Mexican-American War aboard a sailing ship when the character Josh, an older Black man cabin hand, teaches a pig "to know their place"-- not to be on the quarter-deck--with scalding water. Shows, in the right, on a ship deck, Josh, attired in a blue-checkered shirt, red vest and tie, yellow pants, and boots, standing with his legs apart, and holding a cloth in his right hand and a kettle in his left hand. He pours "scalding" water from the kettle onto a squealing pig by his feet. He is portrayed with a smile and steam rises from the back of the pig. To the left are a young Black man, attired in a brown broad-rimmed hat, shirt, pants, and boots and an older white man with a chin-beard and attired in a brown jacket, white vest, blue pants, and shoes. The younger man stands with his feet crossed and leans on the ship railing behind him. The older man is portrayed with a rotund midriff and holds his left hand in his vest pocket and his right hand on the railing on which he leans. A lantern-like object is visible in the left foreground and sailing line and a rope ladder are visible in the right background. Scene also includes a cloudy sky, the ocean, and distant sailing ships in the background. Josh and the white man character are portrayed with exaggerated features and/or manners., Title from item., Date from item., Originally published in Graham's Magazine, January 1847, aft. p. 54., Hand-coloring probably added after removal from publication., RVCDC
Date
1847
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department GC - Fictional Characters - J [P.2022.17]
