1914 Johnson / Riddle WWI Comic Map of Europe: Hark! Hark! The Dogs do Bark!

An uncommon French edition of an iconic 1914 serio-comic satirical map by Johnson, Riddle, and Company issued shortly after the outbreak of World War I (1914 - 1918).

A Closer Look

The chromolithograph map covers all of Europe from the Atlantic to the Black Sea and from Scandinavia to Italy. Superimposed on the map are a host of dogs, as well as other animals and several human figures. Text by the popular Jewish satirist Walter Lewis Emanual appears at the bottom. The lighthearted content captures English optimism early in the war. It was widely assumed that British naval superiority would end the war quickly; some argued in as little as six weeks.

Historical Context

This map was issued shortly after French and British forces halted the German advance at the 1914 Battle of Mons. They are represented here as a British Bulldog and a neatly groomed French Poodle. Facing them is a rather earnest-looking German Dachshund who is chained to a mongrel dog, representing the ethnically diverse Austrian Empire. The two dominant human figures are England and Russia. Winston Churchill, then Lord of the Admiralty, symbolizes England, who plays puppet master with the British Navy, directing a blockade of Germany. Russia, on the opposite corner of the map, is poised to steamroll over Europe. The Balkans are a stirred-up hornet's nest.

All in all, the map succinctly reveals the underlying tensions that led to World War I. For any who need additional elucidation, there is a wonderful write-up at the base of the map by Jewish humorist Walter Emanuel explaining the map's message in detail.

Made for Children?

It has been postulated that this map may have been made for children and passed in schools, thus accounting for its scarcity. As the war developed, publishers like Johnson, Riddle, and Company became more focused on war propaganda and recruitment efforts than educational humor.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This map was designed by Johnson, Riddle, and Company of South London. The work was completed in conjunction with the satirist Walter Lewis Emanual, whose canine-themed humor fills the map and who composed the lengthy text at the bottom. It was published by G. W. Bacon and Company. Most examples are in English. We have not previously seen the current French edition.