Artist John Tenniel | Created 1890–1890 | |
 | ||
Dropping the pilot w einpascal
Dropping the Pilot is a political cartoon by Sir John Tenniel, first published in the British magazine Punch on 29 March 1890. It depicts Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, as a maritime pilot, stepping off a ship (perhaps a reference to Plato's ship of state), idly and unconcernedly watched by a young Wilhelm II, German Emperor. Bismarck had resigned as Chancellor at Wilhelm's demand just ten days earlier on 19 March, as Bismarck's political views were too different from Wilhelm's.
Contents
After the cartoon's publication, Tenniel received a commission from The 5th Earl of Rosebery to create a copy to be sent to Bismarck himself. The former Chancellor reportedly replied, "It is indeed a fine one."
The cartoon is well known in Germany and often used in history textbooks, under the title German: Der Lotse geht von Bord, (literally, The Pilot leaves the ship).
Adaptations
