This anthropomorphic map of western Russia and the Caucasus satirizes the situation between the two regions during the Crimean War. It was one of 500 woodblock illustrations created by Gustave Doré and engraved by Sotain for Histoire Pittoresque, Dramatique et Caricaturale de la Sainte Russie, an anti-Russian work criticizing the tyranny of the Russian Czars and Russia's actions during the Crimean War. The text below the map translates as: "Annual cure for Russia by the Ministry of Doctor Shamil. A dose of 50 Caucasian leeches each autumn." The region between the Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas is a profile view of Nicholas I of Russia. Various parts of his face are labeled with French words that have been given common Russian endings to describe him as a ruler, such as Brutaslaw (brutal), Honteslaw (disgraceful), Balivernaslaw (nonsense), and Furiroslaw (fury). In the Caucasus, Imam Shamil, the leader of North Caucasian resistance, holds a vial from which leeches (men with swords) emerge to draw blood from Nicholas I's neck.

Gustave Doré (1832-83) was born in Strasbourg, France and showed signs of being a prodigy artist at an early age. At the age of 15, Doré began creating caricatures for the French paper Le Journal Pour Rire. He was prolific during his career, with publications of his own works as well as commissions to illustrate works for numerous writers and publishers.

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Condition: B+

A sharp impression on a bright sheet with an old manuscript ink notation near the center of the face and a couple of short tears along the left edge of the sheet that have been repaired with archival tissue on verso.