Is This a Dagger I See Before Me?  

• 1948 
• Milians, Max P. 
• Drawing 
• Cartoons 

9341455

Drawings / paintings

Is This a Dagger I See Before Me?

36.5 x 29 cm

1948

Is This a Dagger I See Before Me? Original political/editorial cartoon, 1948, 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 sword, in the shape of Palestine at the time of the UN Partition Plan for Palestine agreed in November 1947, which is being pointed at the figure representing the United Nations, and threatening its very existence. This refers to the outbreak of violence leading to civil war following acceptance of the Partition Plan and the involvement of the ‘Arab World’ in this conflict. The UN is accused of adopting a ‘defenseless wait & see policy’, although it could not act without the support of its leading members. Britain, which still had armed forces in Palestine, and the US were for instance reluctant to become involved in the fighting and seemed to prefer allowing events to take their course. Produced in ink and crayon over graphite on textured card; image area 31 x 26.5 cm, card size 36.5 x 29 cm. Title in pencil in upper margin. Signed lower right. A few moisture stains bottom centre, otherwise very good condition