The littlest father
Subject(s): Anarchists, Fear, Ghosts, Laughter, Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1868-1918
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Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, sits on his throne. At his feet are an orb, a broken scepter, and a cleft shield showing St. George and the dragon. He is recoiling in horror at being mocked by a gathering of ghosts of the oppressed from ages past, while behind him anarchists with weapons, one about to throw a bomb, are preparing to strike.
Comments and Context
Czar Nicholas II, on his throne in late 1905 was more than a decade from being forced to assuage his restive peoples with meaningless reforms, to abdicate, and to have himself and his family lived as peasants before being brutally murdered. This was in the future, as history knows, yet Carl Hassmann’s chilling portrayal of the Czar’s real position was true and prescient.
It should be noticed that the Czar is taunted by his victims, but also other oppressed peoples in chains; of other uneasy heads who wore thrones, like Napoleon; and critical monarchs like Frederick the Great.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1905-08-09
Creator(s)
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
The littlest father. [August 9, 1905]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278127. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hassmann, Carl, 1869-1933. The littlest father. [9 Aug. 1905]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278127.
APA:
Hassmann, Carl, 1869-1933., [1905, August 9]. The littlest father.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278127.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
