“The “BRAINS” that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention”
“The “BRAINS” that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention” is an editorial cartoon wood engraving by the German American illustrator, Thomas Nast, from 1871. It was first published in Harper’s Weekly on October 21, 1871, on page 992.
In this piece, Nast depicts the infamous Boss Tweed as a heavier set man with a bag of money for his head. The caption, “The Brains”, implies that Tweed’s brains are controlled and fed by greed.
Nast is often referred to as the “Father of the American Cartoon”. His art played prominent roles across the field of politics in the late nineteenth century. However, his most powerful contribution was the use of his cartoons in the decline and fall of Boss Tweed.
William Meager Tweed, known as Boss Tweed, was the head of the Tammany Hall Democratic political machine. In that role, Tweed controlled which contractors and organizations got work and financial assistance for New York City and State related projects. Many people, including Nast, saw this machine as corrupt. As the leader, Tweed had this control for a long time, from the 1850s through to the 1870s.
Nast created over 200 drawings of Tweed highlighting his corruptness and lack of political integrity. Nast’s cartoons were so popular that his opinions helped turn public opinion against Tweed. In a short time, Nast became a huge threat to the stability of Tweed’s power. Tweed’s circle tried, ineffectively, to bribe Nast. Tweed was eventually arrested in 1873.
“The “BRAINS” that achieved the Tammany victory at the Rochester Democratic Convention” can be seen from anywhere online, as the Harper’s Weekly catalog has been digitized.
For more on Thomas Nast, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
