The Australian Jewish News reports:
A CARTOON published by The Australian Financial Review this weekend – depicting Treasurer Josh Frydenberg with a hook nose – has sparked claims of antisemitism, despite the artist responsible denying the allegations.
The cartoon by David Rowe, which is based on the E Phillips Fox painting Landing of Captain Cook at Botany Bay, portrays Prime Minister Scott Morrison as Cook and Frydenberg as a sailor, sporting a head covering, a hook nose and holding a dollar sign.
Social media users have blasted the cartoon, describing it as “disgusting”, “shameful” and an “antisemitic piece of garbage”.
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Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) co-CEO Alex Ryvchin wrote to the cartoonist on Twitter, asking, “Is that the treasurer depicted with a head covering, hook nose and a dollar sign? A better way?”
Rowe responded, “It is Josh but he’s wearing a sailor’s cap as per the E Phillips Fox painting of Cook’s landing. And yes he’s carrying a dollar harpoon because he’s the treasurer. As for the nose it’s just a quick sketch.
“Apologies if you thought I was suggesting something else.”
The original Fox painting, however, does not feature a sailor’s cap, as stated in Rowe’s explanation.
Ryvchin told The AJN on Sunday that ECAJ had received a great number of complaints from members of the community and many others who “detected something sinister in that depiction of the treasurer”.
“Cartoons are subjective and often the public will infer meanings that aren’t there or that the artist never intended,” Ryvchin said.
“This is why I felt it was best to seek a clarification from the cartoonist rather than jumping to conclusions and I’m glad the clarification was issued swiftly.”
He added, “The public can now make up their own minds and I hope that greater caution is exercised in future.”
I think Alex Ryvchin is being kind. There is little doubt in my mind cartoonist David Rowe intended to depict the Jewish treasurer Josh Frydenberg using some antisemitic stereotypes – especially considering the character in the original painting upon whom Josh is based is actually one of the only ones not wearing a cap!
And I suppose in this other one, the long nose on Josh (who in real life does not have a long nose) was also because it was “just a quick sketch” (even though Aussie PM Scott Morrison is not depicted with one)
And yes, I realize he is the treasurer, but long-nose Jew folding money = Der Stürmer would be proud.
