This is a complete set of 12 cards published in 1915 and drawn by the French postcard artist Emil Dupuis. This is the only set from WW1 that we have found which specifically has the neutral nations as its subject. They are composed from the perspective of a patriotic Frenchman, whose country was increasingly hard pressed by the Germans in 1915. The cards are rich in criticism of the self-interest, and especially the perceived hypocrisy, of several of the nations that at the time remained neutral. Dupuis makes clever use of symbolism to convey these criticisms. We have here attempted to interpret that symbolism in the light of the individual national cultures and historical perspective for each country. Emil Dupuis is most well-known among postcard collectors for three series of semi - caricature and semi - realistic color drawings that he did of French soldiers at the front (Nos Poilus), soldiers of France's Allies (Nos Alliés) and of enemy Central Powers soldiers (Leurs Caboches). The series presented here was published by "Paris Color", 152 Quai de Jemmapes in late 1915. |
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on the pictures to enlarge! |
The interpretive text for the individual cards displayed below is by Jerry M. Kosanovich. |
The crucial element in this statement is the passenger ship Lusitania of the British Cunard Line. The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine on May 7, 1915. Uncle Sam, symbol of the United States, uses a scale to weigh the loss of 1,152 civilians killed in the sinking (including 102 Americans) against the profit made in selling loans and material to the belligerents. He finds it an even trade. In bald fact, hiding in hypocrisy behind the skirts of Lady Liberty, America places its mercantile interests above the principles upon which the nation was founded, and for which the French and British were fighting. |
109.
Holland: "Poor little neighbor" |
It should be noted that in point of fact, Holland accepted into her borders, and cared for in a humane fashion, almost one million Belgian and British army and civilian refugees, of whom 300,000 stayed in the country the full four years of the war. Britain acknowledged this generosity, and the progressive forces in the country called upon their government and people to support in a more vigorous fashion relief for the displaced refugees of Belgium. See on this site "Artists" section, the "Punch cards", card no. 35 ("A plain duty") |
Pictured in a fjord for which the country is famous, we see solitary Norwegians holding their national flag and drifting on rafts of logs. One suspects that Dupuis is here depicting the fact that the Norwegian people were confused in their thinking, and that the nation lacked a strong enough consensus to be either enthusiastically interventionist on the side of the Entente Allies, or enthusiastically neutral as were the Swedes. |
111.
Switzerland "Noblesse oblige" |
Note that the train at the bottom right is labeled "Grands blessés", which is French for "seriously wounded". While on the surface this card would appear to be a commendation to Switzerland by the artist, it is possible that in his selection of the title "Noblesse oblige", Dupuis is also criticizing the Swiss for posturing as superior moralists in the face of the warring nations. He nevertheless does acknowledge that country's key role as the only international mediator of compassionate relief between the warring nations. |
113. Spain:
"For right and honor alone" |
In the background, peeking above the edge of the arena seats, you can see the heads of four soldiers representing the Central Powers as identified by their distinctive headgear: left to tight, Bulgaria, Ottoman Turkey, Germany and Austria-Hungary. Again, as with the United States and Sweden, neutrality is identified with material gain over principle. |
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