L'Impero della preda ossia la Piovra d'Absburgo [The Empire of Prey or the Hapsburg Octopus]
- Title:
- L'Impero della preda ossia la Piovra d'Absburgo [The Empire of Prey or the Hapsburg Octopus]
- Alternate Title:
- [The Empire of Prey or the Hapsburg Octopus]
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Date:
- 1915
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2430.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2430_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1900 - 1919
- Subject:
- Pictorial
Satirical
World War I - Measurement:
- 9 x 14 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This Italian postcard map portrays the threat posed by the Austro-Hungarian empire at the outset of World War I, "The Empire of Prey or the Hapsburg Octopus." The text is addressed to "you [who] are nationalities oppressed by the Germans and the Hungarians. This map shows how the Austrian Empire was formed by conquering and subjugating the most diverse peoples with violence or fraud. The immense octopus that has destroyed independence and throttled the freedom of so many people, today extends its tentacles even more to Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and Romania; today he wants to drive his tentacles to the heart of our nation. Italians, if we don't want to become slaves of the hangman, let us all unite in one will and with one word: Out with the Germans." The map is undated, but was likely published soon after Serbia was "invaded, devastated and plundered by Austria and Germany in October 1915."
The octopus is a persistent trope in persuasive cartography. It first appeared in Frederick Rose's "Serio-Comic War Map For The Year 1877," ID #2272, about the Russo-Turkish War. "Once Fred W. Rose had created the 'Octopus' map of Europe, it proved difficult to rid propaganda maps of them." Barber 2010, 164. "The prevalence of the octopus motif in later maps suggests that the octopus also spoke to humanity's primeval fears, evoking a terrifying and mysterious creature from the depths (the dark outer places of the world) that convincingly conjured a sense of limitless evil." Baynton-Williams 2015, 180.
The collection includes numerous maps - from Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Latin America, the Netherlands and the U.S. - employing the octopus motif. (Search > “octopus”.) Many of these relate to imperialism and war, from 1877 to the Cold War. Others attack social and political targets, including a "reactionary" journalist, the Standard Oil monopoly, “Landlordism,” mail order houses, Jews and Mormons.
Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University. - Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.