Fagin the Jew, Poster by Cruikshank for Dicken's Oliver Twist

Book Description

Fagin the JewOriginal Poster Illustrated by George Cruikshank for Dickens’ Oliver Twist(ENGLISH ANTI-SEMITISM) Oliver Twist, Fagin the Jew. Illustrated by George Cruikshank. Hartford, CT: The Calhoun Print Company. [Circa 1880s]. Full color woodblock poster measuring 80 inches x 39 inches linen backed. Very Good condition.A brilliant example of late 19th century woodblock technology, this poster was created from individual boxwood blocks produced separately for each color. The imposing size provides room for three separate vignettes from the novel Oliver Twist: Fagin’s Last Night Alive (Fagin alone in his cell, the largest and most central image); Oliver Introduced to the Old Gent; and Oliver’s Reception by Fagin and the Boys. Fagin appears in each drawing bearing the characteristically loathsome Jewish nose as seen through anti-Semitic vision. Oliver Twist was soon adapted for the theater, where it proved to be an enduring favorite. This poster would have been used as an advertisement for such a production in America.Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens’ second novel, was written in 1837 and tells the story of the orphan Oliver, set against the seamy underside of the London criminal world. First published in monthly parts in Bentley’s Miscellany, it was originally illustrated by George Cruikshank, from which these images are produced.Dickens was severely criticized for introducing criminals and prostitutes into his novels, as well as for targeting the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which renewed the importance of the workhouse as a means for relief for the poor. The public apparently wanted more of the lighter fare that previously had been given them in The Pickwick Papers. The anti-Semitism ingrained into English society at the time Oliver Twist was written emerged boldly in Dickens’ depiction of Fagin, who was seen as a crook and a corruptor of young children. This vivid portrait endures as one of the most memorable of any of the author’s characters and maintains its fascination due to the complexity of the character. Fagin is a Jew and an immigrant and as such had to live under appalling conditions. Although he robs, steals, and trains young boys to be criminals, he also possesses a moral sense, and it is this contradictory morality which makes him so compelling. In a way, Fagin is still a child himself, and thus has a genuine love of children. He is not a violent man and knows that in order to bring children to himself, no violence must be used. He treats the boys with great fondness, keeps them warm, and protects them. Dickens expressed surprise when the Jewish community complained about the stereotypical depiction of Fagin. Later, when he sold his London residence, Tavistock House, to a Jewish couple, whom he befriended, he felt compelled to make restitution. In his novel, Our Mutual Friend, Dickens created Riah, a positive Jewish character. Also, when editing Oliver Twist for the later editions of his works, he eliminated most references to Fagan as “the Jew”.George Cruikshank (1792-1878) was a humorist of the school of Hogarth and is considered by some to be one of the best that Britain has ever produced. From the beginning he was concerned with satire, achieving public notice with painting theatre backdrops, and making pamphlet etchings and illustrating Punch magazine, but his political caricature work was soon overtaken by his work as a book illustrator. His best known work was for Charles Dickens, starting with Sketches by Boz and reaching its zenith, perhaps, with Oliver Twist. Among his large number of other illustrated books were a Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1827), a Pilgrim’s Progress and Paradise Lost, and seven novels by Harrison Ainsworth.Our research indicates that this poster is very rare. Printed in the 1880s, it has not been seen before by the Head of the Poster Department at Swann Auction Galleries in New York, who has provided a letter of authenticity which accompanies the artwork. In the 1950s, a reproduction using the original wood blocks was produced and marketed. Several of these have appeared at auction; however there are slight yet significant differences between the two printings. Our poster is complete with the margins, which none of the later printings had and also bears the phrase “The Jew”, which was removed in the 20th century reproductions.

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