<img width="640" height="891" src="https://www.cooperhewitt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast-700x975.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Image features a cartoon of Thomas Nast and George Curtis in the 'Harper's Weekly' editor's office. Please scroll down to read the blog post about this object." style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" srcset="https://uh8yh30l48rpize52xh0q1o6i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast-700x975.jpg 700w, https://uh8yh30l48rpize52xh0q1o6i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast-215x300.jpg 215w, https://uh8yh30l48rpize52xh0q1o6i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast.jpg 735w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" data-attachment-id="30406" data-permalink="https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2018/07/02/lines-of-political-rhetoric/nast/" data-orig-file="https://www.cooperhewitt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast.jpg" data-orig-size="735,1024" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Nast" data-image-description="<p>The editor is seated at his desk, facing left with newspapers hanging on racks behind him. Seated on the floor, facing right in profile, is the artist himself depicted as a young child. The artist is sharpening his pencil, with a drawing block spread across his knees.</p>" data-medium-file="https://www.cooperhewitt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast-215x300.jpg" data-large-file="https://www.cooperhewitt.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Nast-700x975.jpg" />Today discussions concerning the divisive power of political rhetoric are being addressed throughout the national media. This drawing captures a pivotal moment in nineteenth-century American history that juxtaposes a similar debate. Thomas Nast (1840-1902) joined the staff of Harper’s Weekly in 1862 and his drawings of the Civil War established his reputation. George William Curtis...
