We know not everyone in St. Louis can drop what they’re doing and hop on a plane to New York at a moment’s notice. That’s why, when we learned about the intriguing new exhibition, “The Dreyfus Affair in Postcards: Going Viral at the End of the 19th Century,” opening in New York City, we reached out to the Center for Jewish History (CJH) and the Blavatnik Archive. Thanks to their cooperation, we’re excited to share parts of the exhibit online with our readers, providing a unique opportunity to explore a pivotal moment in history.
The Dreyfus Affair: A Historical Scandal Through Postcards
The exhibit explores the infamous Dreyfus Affair through the lens of “Dreyfusard” and “anti-Dreyfusard” postcards from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Dreyfus Affair, which began in 1894 with the false accusation and unjust conviction of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, deeply divided France and nearly brought the nation to the brink of civil war. This political scandal attracted international attention, with prominent figures such as Émile Zola and Claude Monet supporting Dreyfus, while others, including Jules Verne and Edgar Degas, opposed him.
“By focusing on a vibrant popular medium—the picture postcard—we hope to bring to life the key events, stakes, and impact of the Dreyfus Affair,” said Julie Chervinsky, Director of the Blavatnik Archive. “Despite being more than 100 years old, these postcards carry imagery and messaging with acute contemporary relevance, and remind us of the dangers posed by nationalism and antisemitism to justice and personal rights.”
An Exclusive Online Exhibit for St. Louis
Through this special arrangement, the St. Louis Jewish Light will feature a series of photos and descriptions from the exhibit, bringing this crucial historical narrative directly to our readers. This exclusive online experience will allow you to explore the poignant and powerful postcards that captured the public’s imagination over a century ago, reflecting the era’s societal divisions and the enduring impact of the Dreyfus Affair.
“These postcards from the Dreyfus Affair provide a picture of a nation torn in two by antisemitism, much like our current moment. Many of them also happen to be fascinating works of art,” said Prof. Maurice Samuels of Yale University, an expert on the Dreyfus Affair. “Seeing how political divisions manifested themselves through images gives us a new perspective on an important historical event and sheds light on the way that popular culture infiltrated new realms of experience at the end of the nineteenth century in France.”
