L’AFFAIRE DREYFUS & L’IMAGE – The Dreyfus Affair and Images
An early booklet containing a comprehensive collection of 197 caricatures for and against Dreyfus, published in the international press during the peak of the affair, starting from 1894. A vast array of caricatures published in the English, Austro-Hungarian, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Italian, Romanian, Russian, Swiss, and American press. Text and editing by John Grand-Carteret. Published by Le Siècle, Paris, 1899 – First Edition.
At the top of the issue appears the phrase: “Blessed are those who have no… Affair.” The cover reads: “For Dreyfus – Against Dreyfus.” This is one of the earliest publications, appearing even before the conclusion of the affair, showcasing a wide variety of caricatures published across Europe since its inception. The caricatures focus on Dreyfus, his supporters, and his opponents, emphasizing the satirical and often antisemitic aspects of the controversy. Each caricature is accompanied by detailed information, including the illustrator’s name, the country of publication, and the exact publication date.
The Dreyfus Affair marked the first time in history that writers, artists, and academics actively participated in the social and political arena, taking clear and decisive stances either for or against Dreyfus. The affair also caused rifts among friends and colleagues, most famously the split between painters Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro, who were previously close friends. Artists supporting Dreyfus included Claude Monet, Paul Signac, Édouard Vuillard, and Mary Cassatt, while notable opponents included Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne. A unique phenomenon of the Dreyfus Affair was the shifting positions of many illustrators, whose support changed due to personal beliefs or the positions of their employers. A notable example is the illustrator Pépin, who created anti-Dreyfus illustrations for the right-wing magazine Le Gerlot. Over time, as Pépin came to believe in Dreyfus’s innocence, he was forced to leave his position at the magazine and was persecuted for his new stance.
The booklet’s final two pages feature French and European postcards related to the Dreyfus Affair. The editor explains: “The affair led to the publication of numerous postcards in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, and more recently in France. Let us highlight among the most interesting series…” and lists important postcard series released in Brussels, Germany, England, and other locations. In parallel with L’AFFAIRE DREYFUS & L’IMAGE, the German booklet Dreyfus Bilderbuch was published in the same year in a similar style.
48 leaves. 36 cm. Tears and missing parts on the cover edges and some page margins. Overall condition: Good-Moderate.
