Whether the artist’s eye be turned to Germany or to Holland, he gives
proof that his vision is clear and his sense of propriety and humour
keen. But the “new oil line” is Dutch, and here the humour is more
genial, the satire less sharp and biting. In the foreground, drawn with
great force and dignity, is the Lion of England, in blandest mood, who
with his back to the German, astride the cask in strikingly complacent
smiles, holds the dish to the tap in England, pouring out oil which is
carried by an ingenious use of the Lion’s tail to the German’s cask.
Over the great Lion, and held by the Lion, is the umbrella, inscribed
N.O.T. [the Netherlands Oversea Trust], under cover of which the oil
is thus cleverly carried to the smiling German. The artist touches
safely and surely a delicate subject which a journalist could not treat
without rousing anger; but in result a situation is shown which is
sure to prove, and is proving, a trying one both to the Dutch and to
the British people. However, there can be little question but that the
edge of his wit is turned upon his “ain countrie” by this formidable
artist-commentator.
The cunning and brutality of a German debased by the worship of Kultur,
of force, are almost wholly absent here; and instead the artist treats
the question of Neutrality, and smiles in line and colour at both
Holland and Britain. Poor “human nature” is held up to the mirror;
foibles, failings, and futility reflected. That the Lion should
think that N.O.T. umbrella shelters him from trickery only shows his
vanity: that the oil goes to the “enemy” shows the artist’s views of
some Dutchmen; that N.O.T. may also suggest that the German’s need is
supplied even by the Lion’s tail of pride. Is there a further satire of
men in war? While men are mown down on the field by death’s improved
tools, some men will always find it “good business” to deal in “oil,”
or something else at the expense of a belligerent. If the Dutchman
does the business, and the German, broadly pleased, has his sore need
supplied, there is the generous Lion, ’neath an umbrella which he
upholds himself, made to oil an enemy, the German of the age of Kultur!
_Canto virginibus puerisque._