Vanity Fair: Statesmen, No. 118 "Anything to Beat Grant" - Thomas Nast

A 1872 political caricature by Thomas Nast depicting Horace Greeley, published in Vanity Fair during the US presidential election campaign.

This chromolithograph, published in the British weekly magazine Vanity Fair on 20 July 1872, depicts Horace Greeley, the American newspaper editor and politician. The work captures the period of the 1872 United States presidential election, where Greeley ran against the incumbent, Ulysses S. Grant. The title, "Anything to Beat Grant," reflects the coalition of Liberal Republicans and Democrats who sought to unseat the president.

Thomas Nast, a prominent political cartoonist of the nineteenth century, employs a satirical approach to portraiture. Greeley is shown with his characteristic spectacles, fringe beard, and somewhat dishevelled appearance. He holds newspapers, including the New York Tribune, which he founded and edited. The text on the papers references the political climate of the time, including slogans and criticisms directed at his campaign. The figure is rendered with a focus on caricature, exaggerating his physical traits to convey a specific political persona.

Vanity Fair was well-known for its series of lithographic portraits of public figures, often accompanied by brief, witty biographies. These prints were produced using a process that allowed for the application of colour, distinguishing them from the black-and-white engravings common in other periodicals of the era. The background is a neutral, muted tone, which directs the viewer's attention to the subject's posture and expression. This piece serves as a historical document of American political discourse during the Reconstruction era, illustrating the role of the press in shaping public opinion. The print demonstrates the technical capabilities of Victorian-era colour printing and the influence of Nast's graphic style on contemporary political commentary.