The Hostages. Father, what have we done? 

• 1914 
• Raemaekers, Louis 
• Drawing 
• Historical item 

5977103

Drawings / paintings

The Hostages. Father, what have we done?

31 x 24 cm

1914

Original political cartoon on card in charcoal and pastel, syndicated to various publications, 1914, shows a number of Belgian civilians about to be executed by German soldiers and relates to an event that became known as the Aerschot Massacre. On 19 August 1914, after a German brigade commander was allegedly killed by a 16-year-old Belgian boy, German troops rounded up the civilian population and killed 150 of them in cold blood as reprisal, accusing them of being ‘franc-tireurs’(civilian snipers). Then they pillaged and burnt the town. Similar scenes would occur throughout the month, demonizing the Germans in the eyes of the world for their “Rape of Belgium”. This cartoon has been reproduced in many books of collected cartoons by Raemaekers. Although a Dutch national and therefore neutral during WW1, his cartoons were such virulently anti-German propaganda, and so widely published, that the Germans put a price on his head, and he eventually fled to Britain for his own safety. Reframed and mounted for an overall size of 47 x 37 cm (18.5 x 14.5 inch), image size 31 x 24 cm, signed lower right. On verso is the label of sale to Lady Rhondda, stating that ‘This cartoon, number 8, was purchased at the Exhibition of Louis Raemaeker’s war cartoons held at the Fine Arts Society, New Bond Street, December-January 1915 by Lady Rhondda’ and below this a typed label stating: “The Hostages. ‘Father, what have we done?’ The Property of The Lady Rhondda”, both taken from the original frame. Minor spotting marks in the upper left hand corner, otherwise in very good condition.