Portrait of a Child (Cyril Nast?)

Art Historical Context

This delicate etching, *Portrait of a Child (Cyril Nast?)*, captures an intimate family moment from around 1881. Created by Thomas Nast—America’s celebrated political cartoonist and illustrator—or possibly his son Cyril, the work portrays a young child with tender attention to expression and form. Though Nast is best known for his influential Harper’s Weekly caricatures that shaped public opinion during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, this small print reveals a more personal side of the artist’s practice. Executed in etching, a technique prized for its fine lines and tonal subtlety, the first-state impression preserves the artist’s initial vision before later revisions. Measuring just 7 by 5⅜ inches, the intimate scale invites close viewing, emphasizing the quiet bond between parent and child. The print’s donation to the Metropolitan Museum in 1933 by Nast’s children—Thomas Jr., Mabel, and Cyril—further underscores its role as a cherished family keepsake. Today the work offers visitors a glimpse into the private life of a public figure, bridging Nast’s sharp satirical imagery with the gentle domesticity of late nineteenth-century portraiture.

About the Artist

Cyril Nast|Thomas Nast (American|American, born Germany) · 1879 |1840 –1966 |1902

American, 1879–1966|American (born Germany), Landau 1840–1902 Guayaquil