Image: China, the cake of kings and emperors, Le Petit Journal 1898
Description: Caption: “En Chine - Le gâteau des Rois et... des Empereurs”, (eng.: "China - the cake of kings and... of emperors".) French political cartoon from Le Petit Journal published in Le Petit Journal Jan. 16th, 1898. The cartoon is meant to illustrate the imperialist tendencies of these nations towards China: A cake representing China is being divided between caricatures of various foreign rulers. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and William II are squabbling over a piece, with the latter thrusting a knife into the pie to illustrate aggressive German behaviour. Czar Nicholas II of Russia is eyeing a piece, while the French Marianne is diplomatically shown as not participating in the carving, while being shown to stand close to Nicholas II, as a reminder of the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894. The Japanese Meiji emperor contemplates which piece to take. A stereotypical Qing official throws up his hands but is powerless to stop the proceedings.
Title: China, the cake of kings and emperors, Le Petit Journal 1898
Credit: Cornell University Library Digital Collections, from Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection: https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:3293809
Author: Henri Meyer
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No
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