Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense. The Holy War series. New Canaan, 1948.
SZYK, Arthur. “Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense” (Je men sens tres honi, car j’y pense tres mal…) Signed and Dated in an usually lengthy fashion: “Arthur Szyk, 1948 New Canaan (not a British Mandate) since 1776”. Additionally Signed “A.S.”. Pen and ink on paper. Sheet size: 7″ x 6 3/8″. Image size: 5″ x 6″. Ink smears affecting title and the right third of the image, Good condition.
Arthur Szyk had a conflicted relationship with the nation of Britain. On the one hand they published his magnum opus The Haggadah and seemed genuinely interested in the danger to Jews at the start of World War II and on the other, after war’s completion they were reluctant to release their colonial interests in Palestine and assist in creating a sovereign Jewish nation.
In this image an upright British officer sits cross legged in informal negotiations with two Arabs both of whom are well armed with sabers and a machine gun. Seated upon a pillow that says “Seine Excellenz Der Gross Mufti” [His Excellency the Grand Mufti] is Amin al-Husayni, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. A mufti is an Islamic scholar who is an interpreter of Islamic law and capable of issuing Fatwas. The Grand Mufti is the highest official of religious law in a Sunni Muslim country. During World War II al-Husayni conducted propaganda on behalf of Nazi Germany (frequently being photographed with Adolf Hitler) and helped to recruit Muslims for the German Army. Szyk has drawn him wearing swastikas as decoration. Al-Husayni later played a major role in Arab resistance to Zionist political ambitions in Palestine. The other Arab is presented as a soldier, a man of military might and ambition.
The British officer is clearly interested in cutting some kind of deal. Szyk’s title Honi soit qui mal y pense (French for ‘Evil to him who evil thinks’) invokes the motto that appears on the garter surrounding the shield on the Royal Coat of Arms. Szyk’s reply is “Je men sens tres honi car j’y pense tres mal.” (“I’m feeling badly because I’m thinking evil.”)
Szyk humorously insults the British yet again when he connects the colonizing of America directly to that of Palestine with the tagline by his signature: “New Canaan (not a British Mandate since 1776).”
THE HOLY WARS SERIES: Violence in the Holy Land broke out almost immediately after the United Nations announced Partition on November 29, 1947. Despite disadvantages in numbers, organization and weaponry, the Jews began to take the initiative in the weeks from April first until the declaration of independence on May 14th, 1948. The Arab nations of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Transjordan then declared a Holy War of extermination and vowed to “save Palestine.” The months following would see a terrible loss of life and the destruction of the Yishuv’s [Jewish community] economy, however the Arab war failed to destroy Israel itself. Armistice agreements were signed beginning in February 1949 by Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria with Iraq refusing to sign. The ultimate victory was the birth of the independent state of Israel. Szyk drew prodigiously during this historic time frame and many of his political cartoons were published in newspapers and magazines of the day. Arthur Szyk has subtitled this work: “From series “The Holy War’” indicating that were likely numerous others drawings included in this series, several of which are in The Arthur Szyk Collection.
Provenance: Alexandra Szyk Bracie, daughter of Arthur Szyk.
