The interest-bearing Jewish Shylock holds the knife in his hand - an early antisemitic engraving. London, 1776

The interest-bearing Jewish Shylock holds the knife in his hand - an early antisemitic engraving. London, 1776

A large antisemitic engraving depicting the stingy Jewish Shylock Lending at interest from William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice" (written in the 16th century) in the scene of the knife, published by John Hamilton Mortimer - London 1776. (Printer details and the year of pulication below the engraving). Extremely rare.

The engraving depicts the scene in which Shylock holds a knife in his hand with a devilish look - according to a drawing presented in the Artists' Association in 1775. In the scene, the Jewish Shylock pursues greed Lend three thousand ducats to Antonio Christian, and terms with him in a written and signed note that if he does not return the money on time, the Jew will be allowed to cut a liter of meat from his body. Antonio lost his fortune and could not repay the debt, and Shylock, decided to take revenge on Antonio and to cut a liter of his flesh on the side of the heart. The engraving shows the Jewish Shylock holding the knife in his hand and preparing to cut Antonio's flesh on the side of his heart. At the bottom of the engraving appears the relevant passage from the play in which Shylock is preparing to sustain the intervention is quoted: "If ev'ry ducat in six thousand ducats / were in six parts and ev'ry part a ducat / I would not draw them: I would have my Bond".

The play accompanied by harsh antisemitic passages against the egoistic nature of the Jews, and it caused waves of antisemitic outbursts throughout Europe over the years, and whenever disagreements arose between Jews and Christians the play served as a backdrop for antisemitic stereotypical representation of the Jew as a threat to the decent Christian community.

Size: 43x35 cm. Thick paper. Glued to thick paper for storage.