The Dove Returns to Ararat 

• 1947 
• Milians, Max P. 
• Drawing 
• Cartoons 

9330569

Drawings / paintings

The Dove Returns to Ararat

36.5 x 28.5 cm

1947

Original political/editorial cartoon, 1947, by American editorial cartoonist Max P. Milians (1908-2005), probably for the Jewish Standard, with which he was associated for most of his life, although his work was also syndicated across America from the 1930s to the 1970s. Milians signed his cartoons with nine zeros as a punning underline. The cartoon shows a dove of peace returning to the UN ‘Arc’ with an olive branch and a ‘US-Russia agreement’. On 29 November 1947 the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of the Partition Plan for Palestine, proposed by the UN itself and accepting the principle of the creation of independent Arab and Jewish States. This was only possible because both the US and, surprisingly, the Soviet Union voted for the plan. The cartoon makes a biblical reference to the story, in the Book of Genesis, of Noah releasing a dove to search for dry land after the flood. The dove returns to Ararat with the olive branch, indicating dry land, and becomes a symbol of peace and hope for the future. Any such hopes for the Middle East were quickly dashed as Palestine almost immediately descended into civil war. Produced in ink and crayon over graphite on textured card; image area 31 x 25.5 cm, card size 36.5 x 28.5 cm. Signed lower right. Verso blank except for note in pencil. Clean and bright, very good condition