February 9, 2016 - "The Debate"

The timing is right to carve a symbol for each of the main political parties.  The donkey is obviously waiting for a sparing partner for any upcoming debate opportunity, and thus......the addition of the elephant to the relief library.

Donkey relief print - Black Ranger ink and heavy body Golden acrylic paint on Strathmore mixed media paper.

It is historically appropriate that the donkey was created in advance of the elephant since that sequence mirrors their historical use. Cartoonist Thomas Nast is also credited with the use of the elephant for the repulican party (and Santa Clause and Uncle Sam.)  Almost 40 years after the donkey was introduced, beginning with the derogatory references to then candidate Andrew Jackson, the elephant image was initially aligned with a group (the republican vote,) fearful of the pending inflation and chaos created by a third term democratic term in office.

In the November election, the Republicans lost control of the House, and Nast (a Republican,) used the elephant image being caught in a trap set by the donkey (an image firmly established as "democrats.)
Cartoonist Nast continued to use both the donkey and elephant images as party "representatives and by 1880 other cartoonists has adopted the images, as well.

By 1890 the democrats used the donkey and the republican had adopted the elephant as their respective "mascots," and included these images on party literature, campaign buttons , and political merchandise and propaganda.  The  elephant is an official symbol for the party - no official status for the donkey.

If you ever wondered about the power of political cartoonists, look no further. 

Elephant Relief Print - Black Ranger ink on 300 series Strathmore printmaker paper.