Blanche's Political Cartoons
There's no way around it, Blanche was an artist, and through my research, there has been one recurring theme in her cartoons: Women's Suffrage. Blanche went to marches, funded campaigns, and more, but many suffragists have done that before, and I wanted to focus on something different, something unique- political cartoons.
Blanche stood up for what she believed in. In a world dominated by males, women were meant to be silent. She took a stand, breaking the silence. She did not believe in total power for men, and she did not hide this opinion. While many opposed her, creating political cartoons to combat hers, she held strong, keeping her determination. In every aspect of her life, Blanche was a fighter, determined to get things done. Even when she was eighty years old, and most women her age were sitting down for tea, she became outraged at articles written about her father calling him a carpetbagger, and worse. One of these articles was written by arguably the most powerful man in the world at the time... President John F. Kennedy. She set pen to paper in a fury and wrote a book that told of the courageous acts that she truly believed showed her ancestor's character. Now that you have a taste of what Blanche could do, with her opposing not only anti-suffragists, but our Presidents, I will tell you the real reason she was a leader who deserves to be honored in history.
Blanche was a leader. She used her art for women's politics. In 1915, Blanche joined the Woman's Journal as Art Editor. This was the beginning of her art in politics. She began to draw of her visions for the world, she took her emotions of how gender inequality saddened her, and turned them into art.
Blanche was a leader. She used her art for women's politics. In 1915, Blanche joined the Woman's Journal as Art Editor. This was the beginning of her art in politics. She began to draw of her visions for the world, she took her emotions of how gender inequality saddened her, and turned them into art.
"She [Blanche] had the Cuban bell rung every day at noon until votes for women was won. She was chairman of a Woman's Committee to defeat Senator Weeks of Massachusetts who was against giving women the vote. [...] She used her artistic talents for the cause, drawing biting cartoons which were published in The Boston Transcript."
~Quote from Pauline Ames in Ramblings About Borderland~
Below, you will see Blanche's cartoons and a brief analysis of them.
Political Cartoon Historical Analysis
"Taft puts his Foot down on Suffrage Meanwhile the Rest Drown!"
President Taft was an anti-suffragist. He believed that only men should have the right to vote, and that suffragists were an "uneducated, altogether unintelligent class". Taft also said the idea of women being able " to take part in government is a theory that I wholly dissent from".
~Taft Quote is from The Public: Volume 13 (E-book)~
You can learn more about Taft and the anti-suffragists on The Anti-Suffragists page.
President Taft was an anti-suffragist. He believed that only men should have the right to vote, and that suffragists were an "uneducated, altogether unintelligent class". Taft also said the idea of women being able " to take part in government is a theory that I wholly dissent from".
~Taft Quote is from The Public: Volume 13 (E-book)~
You can learn more about Taft and the anti-suffragists on The Anti-Suffragists page.
"The New Cradle"
This cartoon shows the "Cradle of Liberty", Faneuil Hall. It shows a man making liberty larger, large enough to fit both boy and girl. He is using the suffrage amendment to make the cradle larger. This cartoon shows Blanche's hope for women to be included in democracy, and her hopes of liberty for all, including women, will start at Faneuil Hall, in her state's capital, Boston.
This cartoon shows the "Cradle of Liberty", Faneuil Hall. It shows a man making liberty larger, large enough to fit both boy and girl. He is using the suffrage amendment to make the cradle larger. This cartoon shows Blanche's hope for women to be included in democracy, and her hopes of liberty for all, including women, will start at Faneuil Hall, in her state's capital, Boston.
"Woman Suffrage Flowers"
In this cartoon, the iconic Uncle Sam is pruning away prejudice. His tools are: "logic, liberty, equality, justice, truth, and education". The anti-suffragists are portrayed as a caterpillar at the top of the U.S., which eats away at and is a parasite to flowers. Blanche is urging people to vote for women's rights at the next election.
In this cartoon, the iconic Uncle Sam is pruning away prejudice. His tools are: "logic, liberty, equality, justice, truth, and education". The anti-suffragists are portrayed as a caterpillar at the top of the U.S., which eats away at and is a parasite to flowers. Blanche is urging people to vote for women's rights at the next election.
"The Next Rung"
Progress was a buzzword in the early 1900's. This is why many of Blanche's cartoons were centered around the word. Progress got everyone thinking about the future: where they wanted the world to go, what they wanted to happen, and how they could make it happen. This is the goal of the woman climbing the ladder in the cartoon "The Next Rung". The woman is being pushed down by two demons that are trying to keep her from reaching the top of the ladder, and true progress. The demons- Injustice and Prejudice- are just some of the troubles that this woman has to overcome to get the right to vote. You can see that Injustice is blind-folded, showing how Blanche felt that injustice is blind, it only sees half of the story. Blanche's cartoons were drawn to make you think... what does this make you think of? I think of hardship and the courage to overcome them. This woman has already overcome so much greed and ignorance, but now she faces more challenges. She is using her education to help her, but she is still a long way away from the top rung, and must keep climbing. She has come too far to turn back now. This was Blanche's message, this was her hope, and thanks to determined suffragists like Blanche and her contemporaries, women now have a vote, now have true democracy.
Progress was a buzzword in the early 1900's. This is why many of Blanche's cartoons were centered around the word. Progress got everyone thinking about the future: where they wanted the world to go, what they wanted to happen, and how they could make it happen. This is the goal of the woman climbing the ladder in the cartoon "The Next Rung". The woman is being pushed down by two demons that are trying to keep her from reaching the top of the ladder, and true progress. The demons- Injustice and Prejudice- are just some of the troubles that this woman has to overcome to get the right to vote. You can see that Injustice is blind-folded, showing how Blanche felt that injustice is blind, it only sees half of the story. Blanche's cartoons were drawn to make you think... what does this make you think of? I think of hardship and the courage to overcome them. This woman has already overcome so much greed and ignorance, but now she faces more challenges. She is using her education to help her, but she is still a long way away from the top rung, and must keep climbing. She has come too far to turn back now. This was Blanche's message, this was her hope, and thanks to determined suffragists like Blanche and her contemporaries, women now have a vote, now have true democracy.
Now It's Your Turn!
Look at the next cartoons... think about what Blanche may have wanted you to see. What do you think her message was and how did she use writing and art elements to convey this message? Email me at [email protected], I'll let you in on my thoughts. You can compare our analyses and see how the same picture can show different people different messages. I can't wait to hear from you!
Look at the next cartoons... think about what Blanche may have wanted you to see. What do you think her message was and how did she use writing and art elements to convey this message? Email me at [email protected], I'll let you in on my thoughts. You can compare our analyses and see how the same picture can show different people different messages. I can't wait to hear from you!
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