Personification Collection (page 45)

BOSTON TEA PARTY, 1773. The able Doctor, or America Swallowing the Bitter Draught. William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, holding down America while Lord North pours tea down her throat

WOMENs RIGHTS, 1792. Allegorical depiction of a woman presenting the seated figure of Liberty with a copy of Mary Wollstonecrafts A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

IVAN VI ANTONOVICH (1740-1764). Infant Czar of Russia, 1740-41. The birth of Ivan VI. Line engraving, 18th century

RAILROAD ACCIDENTS, 1871. Our Constant Traveling Companion. American cartoon comment by Thomas Nast, 1871, on the frequent fatal railroad (left) and steamboat (right) accidents of the time

ALLEGORY: ROMAN EMPIRE. Allegorical depiction of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Line engraving

ENGLAND: JOHN BULL. Personification of England. 20th century illustration

FRANCE: MARIANNE. Personification of France. 20th century illustration

RUSSIA: IVAN. Personification of Russia. 20th century illustration

UNCLE SAM. 20th century illustration

THE SPIRIT OF PROHIBITION. Personification of prohibition in America. 20th century illustration

TRUTH. Personification of truth. Wood engraving, American, c1840

FATHER KNICKERBOCKER. Personification of New York. 20th century illustration

GERMANY: COUSIN MICHAEL. Personification of Germany. 20th century illustration

REPUBLICAN VOTER, c1896. The Republican voter, characterized by his drink of choice, champagne. Cartoon engraving, American, c1896

ALLEGORY: KNIGHT. Printers cut, 19th century

TEMPERANCE VOTER, c1896. The temperance voter, characterized by his drink of choice, ice water. Cartoon engraving, American, c1896

BIBLE ILLUSTRATION, 1685. Illustration for Romans 6: 23 ( For the wages of sin is death)
BIBLE ILLUSTRATION, 1685. Illustration for Romans 6:23 ( For the wages of sin is death... ) from a Hieroglyphic Bible printed at Augsburg, Germany, in 1685

THE MUSE OF PAINTING. Line engraving, French, early 19th century, after a painting by Giovanni da San Giovanni (1592-1636)

ALLEGORY: COMMERCE. American engraving, 19th century

CARTOON: WAR OF 1812. Bruin become Mediator: or, Negociation for Peace. Russia (bear) attempting to broker peace between Britain and the United States shortly after the outbreak of the War of 1812

ALLEGORY: GEOGRAPHY, 1707. Title page of a 1707 edition of Strabos Geography by Joannem Wolters

ALLEGORY: VICTORY. Victory goddess. 19th century engraving after an ancient Roman painting

ALLEGORY: AFRICA. Engraving by G. Child for Thomas Salmons Universal Traveler, c1752-53

ALLEGORY: TRUTH. Lo! Truth unveils the baseness of Mankind, And in her Mirrour paints the Ugly Mind. 19th century allegorical engraving

SEVEN VIRTUES: FORTITUDE. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1560, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Latin motto at the bottom reads: To conquer ones impulses

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: SLOTH. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1557, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Flemish verse below the engraving, freely translated reads: Sloth weakens men, until at length

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: GREED. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1556, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Flemish verse below the engraving, freely translated reads: Grasping Avarice does not understand Honor

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: PRIDE. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1557, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Flemish verse below the engraving, freely translated reads: Almighty God detests the vice of Pride

SEVEN VIRTUES: FAITH. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1559, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Latin motto at the bottom reads: Faith above all is to be preserved, particularly with respect to religion

SEVEN DEADLY SINS, 1557. Gluttony. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1557, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Flemish verse below the engraving

SEVEN VIRTUES: TEMPERANCE. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1560, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Latin motto at the bottom reads

SEVEN VIRTUES: HOPE. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1559, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Latin motto at the bottom reads

SEVEN VIRTUES: PRUDENCE. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1559, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Latin motto at the bottom reads: If you wish to be prudent, think always of the future

SEVEN DEADLY SINS: ANGER. Engraving after a pen drawing, 1557, by Peter Bruegel the Elder. The Flemish verse below the engraving, freely translated reads: Anger congests the mouth, poisons the mood

SEVEN VIRTUES: CHARITY. Line engraving by Philippe Galle (1537-1612) after a pen drawing, 1559, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

SEAL OF NEW YORK, 1870. Allegory of Excelsior. American banknote engraving, c1870

ALLEGORIES: BRITANNIA instructing Asia, Africa, Europe and America in the science of Geography. Copper engraving, English, 1784

ALLEGORY: COLUMBIA, 1870. Symbol of freedom. American banknote engraving c1870

CHILDREN OF PLANET VENUS. Allegoric representation of the Life of the Children of the planet Venus. Line engraving, 1533, by Gabriele Giolita de Ferrari

ALLEGORIES: BRITANNIA surrounded by geographical and nautical artifacts: copper engraving, 18th century

VIRTUES: PRUDENCE, 1777. An allegory of Prudence. Copper engraving, French, 1777

ERIE CANAL OFFICIAL BADGE. Used at the Canal Celebration in 1825. Line engraving, 1825

ALLEGORY: AGE AND YOUTH. January and May. Steel engraving, 19th century

ALLEGORY: PEACE AND POWER. Line engraving, French, early 19th century, after a painting by Ciro Ferri (1634-1689)

DEATH, 1639. English engraving of the transitoriness of might, 1639

BRITISH CONSTITUTION. Liberty Protecting the (unwritten) British Constitution against the attacks of Anarchy and Despotism. Allegorical English engraving, 1796

ENGLAND: REFORM, 1830. English engraving, c1830, advocating reform. King William IV is surrounded by leading Whigs and Radicals

JUSTICE, 19th CENTURY. Wood engraving

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Personification is a powerful artistic technique that breathes life into inanimate objects, concepts, and even nations. From the explosive brilliance of "A Star Explodes" by Norman Lindsay to the resilience embodied in "Long Live Estonia, " personification captivates our imagination. In an 1866 cartoon titled "Deaths Dispensary, " water pollution takes on a sinister form as it becomes the source of disease, reminding us of the consequences of environmental negligence. The Austro-Hungarian Empire proudly waves its flag while personified, symbolizing its strength and identity. Dressed in ancient Roman costume, we witness the embodiment of history itself. Guiseppe Heintz's 17th-century map of Venice transports us back in time to a city alive with stories waiting to be discovered. Lord have mercy on London. A contemporary English woodcut depicts the Great Plague of 1665 as death rides upon a pale horse, illustrating how they are evoke fear and urgency. Finland emerges as a vibrant character through "The Personification of Finland (Suomi), " representing national pride and unity. Gustave Doré's wood engraving portrays Death on his pale horse from Revelation 6:8, showcasing how personifying abstract ideas can make them tangible and relatable. During World War II, Edward T. Grigware's poster warns against careless talk with the phrase "Keep Mum - The World Has Ears. " This clever use reminds us that words hold power beyond measure. Lastly, Kiyochika Kobayashi's woodcut presents a thought-provoking image: a whale dining on Russian sailors while three fish symbolize Japan. Here we see how nations are given human-like qualities for political commentary or storytelling purposes. Through these diverse examples spanning centuries and cultures, we witness how artists employ personification to engage our emotions and provoke contemplation about complex issues such as pollution or war.