Thomas Nast Gallery of Political Cartoons
The works presented in this gallery do not claim to offer definitive judgments, but rather reflections of their time, their creators, and the issues they sought to expose. These images invite us to think critically, to question power, and to recognize how art can illuminate truths that words alone sometimes cannot.
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About the Gallery
Political cartoons have long been a way for editorial cartoonist to employ satire and hyperbole to draw attention to corruption and societal ills. The Thomas Nast Gallery of Political Cartoons celebrates this rich history and has been curated by political cartoonist ClayJones. We invite you to join us (even laugh with us) as we explore political cartoons- both modern and historic.
Thomas Nast
Thomas Nast (1840 – 1902) was a pioneer in the field of political cartoons. He is notable for creating the elephant symbol for the GOP. Nast’s works appeared regularly in Harper’s Weekly from 1859 to 1860 and from 1862 to 1886. The power of Nast’s work against political corruption is evident in the words of infamous Tammany Boss William M. Tweed: “I don’t care a straw for your newspaper articles—my constituents don’t know how to read—but they can’t help seeing them damned pictures.”
"I don't care a straw for your newspaper articles, my constituents don't know how to read, but they can't help seeing them damned pictures."
Steve Brodner's "An Introduction to Thomas Nast"
Presented with kind permission of the Norman Rockwell Museum
Interested in learning how political cartoons started?
Pedro X Molina
Pedro X. Molina is a Nicaraguan cartoonist with more than 20 years of experience working with national and international media outlets. Pedro currently publishes his work in Confidencial in Nicaragua and Counterpoint in the United States, where he has been living since he fled Nicaragua in late 2018. In addition to his daily work as a cartoonist and illustrator, Pedro has taught university level courses on the techniques and history of cartooning at Ithaca College and Cornell University. He is currently a Franciscan Service Fellow in Human Rights in Saint Francis College in New York. His awards include the Award for Journalistic Excellence from the Gabo Foundation (2021), second prize in the “Gag Cartoon” category from World Press Cartoon (2020), the Maria Moors Cabot Prize from Columbia University (2019), the Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Inter American Press Association (2019), and the Courage in Cartooning Award from Cartoonists Rights Network International (2018).
