An Emergency Exit 

• 1905 
• Sambourne, Edward Linley 
• Drawing 
• Historical item 

5999271

Drawings / paintings

An Emergency Exit

46 x 37 cm

1905

Original political cartoon on card in ink for Punch magazine, 1905, shows a Japanese soldier ice-skating in carefree mood while the Russian bear looks outside the skating rink at Chinese territory. The caption reads: ‘[Russian bear] I’m cutting rather a poor figure in this competition. I think I shall get outside on to the dangerous part, and then they’ll have to rescue me.... I should rather like to be rescued.’ This refers to the Russo-Japanese War 1904-5 and ‘they’ probably refers to the French and German soldiers looking on with interest. Although both the British and the French were neutral in the war, the British were allied to Japan (Anglo-Japanese Alliance, 1902) and helped the Japanese with intelligence gathering, and the French were allied to Russia and gave them considerable financial assistance. Russia had already suffered a number of humiliating defeats at the hands of the Japanese. Moving operations to Chinese territory in Manchuria would not help Russia, as they suffered a decisive defeat in the land battle of Mukden in February 1905. There would also be no rescue, as the only country likely to come to their aid militarily, Germany, was not willing to do so as this could lead to war with Britain and France. Matted in a gilt mount for an overall size of 46 x 37 cm (18 x 14.5 inch), image size 33 x 26 cm, signed and dated 25 January 1905 lower right, caption in ink and signed again in lower border. In very fine original condition.