A Lesson

A Lesson

John Tenniel

1879

John Tenniel

Punch (1 March 1879): 91.

Tenniel’s grimly ironic take on the Anglo-Zulu war in which John Bull is encouraged to learn from the deadly mistake of underestimating the Zulus’ intelligence and military capacity. The incongruity of the scene stresses the intellectual flexibility that was required of the authorities – and how stupidly commanders (and politicians) had regarded the Zulus as childlike savages who posed no credible threat. [Commentary continues below.]

Image scan and text by Simon Cooke

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