Influence de L'Influenza sur L'Europe. [The Influence of Influenza on Europe.]
- Title:
- Influence de L'Influenza sur L'Europe. [The Influence of Influenza on Europe.]
- Alternate Title:
- Influence de L'Influenza sur L'Europe.
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Frison, Gustave
- Date:
- 1890
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2461.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2461_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1870 - 1899
- Subject:
- Disaster/Health/Environment
Pictorial
Politics & Government
Satirical - Measurement:
- 33 x 29 on page 48 x 32 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This caricature map of Europe succinctly captures both the scope and severity of the "great and violent worldwide pandemic" of 1889-90 which was, "with the exception of 1918-19, the most severe influenza pandemic in the last three centuries." Barry 2004, 114, 261. The epidemic apparently began in Russia, and its spread throughout Europe was elaborately detailed by the New York Times in nearly daily reports: "Influenza Moving West" (Dec. 9, 1889, p.1); "Europe's Latest Scourge" (Dec. 11, p.5); "Europe's Epidemic" (Dec. 13, p.2); "Epidemic Influenza" (Dec. 18, p.4). In the days immediately before this work was published, the headlines grew increasingly dire: "Europe's Epidemic - Business Nearly Stopped in Many Cities by the Influenza'' (Dec. 25, p.1); "Influenza's Fatal Phase - Many Deaths Reported in France and Spain - Paris Hospitals Overcrowded - Sixty Thousand Cases in Madrid - Severity in Germany" (Dec 27, p.2).
The map is dominated by "La Grippe" in the form of an angry shrew with a burning torch high aloft over the entire continent. Below her, all of Europe has taken to bed with varying degrees of discomfort, from the well-attended figure of France (with a bottle of wine at bedside) to those of the "Etats Romains" and Prussia (perhaps the young Kaiser Wilhem II?), both of whom are clearly suffering gastrointestinal distress. The cannon representing the Triple Alliance is at rest, pointed to the ground. In those countries not yet entirely consumed by the flu, Spain looks on with concern and England in horror.
The caricaturist Gustave Frison (b. 1850) studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and had an important hand in many of the major French satirical publications in the last quarter of the 19th century. He was the founder, editor-in-chief and principal artist of the weekly Le Troupier, which was published from October 1887 to February 1892. He played similar roles in a number of other satirical periodicals, including Le Musée Comique, Le Bossu, La Galerie Comique, Le Monde Plaisant, and Le Monde Amusant.
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. - Source:
- Le Troupier, Paris, January 2, 1890
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.