1861 Punch Gorilla Cartoon
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1861 Punch Gorilla Cartoon
" The Lion of the Season". Punch XL, May 25th, 1861. This cartoon refers to the French-American explorer Paul Du Chaillu (1835-1903). Du Chaillu was visiting Europe and gaining sensational publicity for his book " Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa etc" in which he described eyewitness accounts of Gorillas. He described the Gorillas size and exaggerated their ferocity. While it made him " the lion of the season" it also caused some to publicly doubt his honesty, and Huxley to dismiss it all as nothing new (Dr. Savage had produced many of the same observations in 1847). The impact of the Gorilla was heightened in this year because the debate about mans evolution from apes was gaining wide attention after Darwins publication of " On the Origin of Species" in 1859. Punch was also in the habit of lampooning the Irish as Mr. G Orilla
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6346797
© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com
Black And White Caricature Cartoon Darwin Descent Evolution Explorer Gorilla Huxley Origin Of Species Owen Punch Savage Mono Chrome
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a historic moment in the world of exploration and scientific debate. The image depicts a cartoon from the 1861 edition of Punch magazine, titled "The Lion of the Season". Created by Paul Du Chaillu, this caricature refers to the French-American explorer's visit to Europe during his sensational book tour. Du Chaillu had gained widespread attention for his work "Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa" where he described eyewitness accounts of gorillas. In this cartoon, he is depicted as a gorilla himself, symbolizing both his fame as "the lion of the season" and the doubts some had about his honesty. At that time, Charles Darwin's groundbreaking publication "On the Origin of Species" had sparked intense interest in human evolution from apes. This added significance to Du Chaillu's claims about gorillas' size and ferocity. However, critics like Huxley dismissed it as nothing new since Dr. Savage had made similar observations years earlier. It is worth noting that Punch magazine often used its platform to satirize various groups or individuals, including depicting Irish people as Mr. G Orilla. This particular cartoon serves as an intriguing snapshot into a period when science, exploration, and social commentary intersected in public discourse. Paul D. Stewart has captured this historical artwork with precision and detail through monochrome photography.
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