The Donkey and the Common

The Donkey and the Common by Walter Crane, 1895

Walter Crane (1845 – 1915) was an internationally renowned illustrator and artist in the late 19th Century and early 20th with a clearly recognisable style.

He was an associate of William Morris, and part of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Much of Walter Crane's work was illustrating children’s books but he was an active radical socialist, a member of the Socialist League, and produced many pictures supporting the international socialist and anarchist movements, notably cartoons printed in Justice, Commonweal and The Clarion.

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In July 1896 there was an International Socialist Workers and Trade Unionist Congress held in London. The list of attendees is like a who's who of the European revolutionary movement - including Tom Mann, Keir Hardie, Peter Kropotkin, Louise Michel, Frank Kitz and many others. The Congress was a landmark event in history, with heated arguments that sealed the split between the anarchists and the Marxists.

Walter Crane produced a set of his socialist drawings and writings, compiled over the previous ten years, and made them into a presentation pack which he called Cartoons for the Cause. They were tied together with a red ribbon and given out to attendees as a souvenir. This picture was included in the set.

We've recreated the pack, added a reproduction of the poster that advertised a mass meeting during the Congress (also available as an A3 colour poster); and added the front cover of the Report of the Congress, which Crane also decorated with his artwork.

We have produced these as 'print on demand' and have a small number in stock which we take to bookfairs and events, but you can also order them online.

Walter Crane included a short parable alongside this drawing - which is reproduced in full in the booklet.