![“The Evolution of Wilhelm,” an original pen-and ink drawing, signed on both sides, signed and dated in the upper right-hand corner of the drawing, “Edmund J. Sullivan [19]18.”](https://i0.wp.com/www.gosenrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20210619_091452rs-scaled.jpg?fit=1506%2C2048&ssl=1 "“The Evolution of Wilhelm,” an original pen-and ink drawing, signed on both sides, signed and dated in the upper right-hand corner of the drawing, “Edmund J. Sullivan [19]18.”")
![“The Evolution of Wilhelm,” an original pen-and ink drawing, signed on both sides, signed and dated in the upper right-hand corner of the drawing, “Edmund J. Sullivan [19]18.”](https://i0.wp.com/www.gosenrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20210619_091503rs-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C1456&ssl=1 "“The Evolution of Wilhelm,” an original pen-and ink drawing, signed on both sides, signed and dated in the upper right-hand corner of the drawing, “Edmund J. Sullivan [19]18.”")
Description
“The Evolution of Wilhelm,” an original pen-and ink drawing, signed on both sides, signed and dated in the upper right-hand corner of the drawing, “Edmund J. Sullivan [19]18.” 26.5 cm x 18.5 cm. An image of an Irish cross monument, around which a large snake has wound itself. At the foot of the monument is a grieving woman with her shawl drawn tightly around her. In the foreground, the Kaiser plays the violin in disguise, wearing a mardi gras mask and a crowned eagle on his hat. The inscription, “In Memory of Irish Soldiers Who Fell Fighting the Hun,” on the base of the monument. On the verso is the following annotation: “The Evolution of Wilhelm / The Shan van voght and the snake charmer. / The Kaiser, disguised as an Irishman sneaks in professing to comfort the shan van voght, / in her sorrow; and surreptitiously charms back the snake. ‘Tu l’as voulu, St. Georges.’ / by Edmund J. Sullivan, ARWS.” (The Sean-Bhean bhocht, Irish for the “Poor old woman” often spelled phonetically in this song as “Shan Van Vocht”), is a traditional Irish song from the period of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and dating in particular to the lead up to a French expedition to Bantry Bay, that ultimately failed to get ashore in 1796.) Pencil annotations below the image relate to publication. Minor chips off the upper corners. The condition is very good, considering the age of the heavy card art stock.
This drawing was drawn first in pencil, then retraced in ink by Edmund J. Sullivan. This anti-German drawing came after the Irish Uprising during Easter Week in 1916, in which Germany sought to arm the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). In the 1918 General Election, the last all-island election held in Ireland, Republicans won 73 seats out of 105, on a policy of separation from Westminster and Irish independence. E. J. Sullivan’s cartoons relating to Germany’s involvement in Ireland document the view held in Westminster that Germany was exploiting the desire for Irish independence for Germany’s own selfish strategic goals, as personified by the Kaiser.
Edmund Joseph Sullivan (1869 – 1933) followed in his artist father’s footsteps, when he chose to work as an artist, choosing book illustration and graphic design. The acerbic satire evident in this anti-German cartoon shows Sullivan’s enormous talent and his ability to work under a rush order deadline. Sullivan’s drawings are held in the Morgan Library’s collection of Modern and Contemporary Drawings.
POW Mail from a WWI German Prisoner to His Parents the Gottliebs in Upper Bavaria 25 July 1918
