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Francisco G. Algibay "Couto"

Updated: Oct 12, 2021




From 1930 to 1943, Francisco G. Algibay (1901-1975), under the pseudonym ‘Couto’, dedicated various cartoons in Frente Popular and España Libre. to illustrate European fascism and its support for Franco. Couto worked at a meat market in the Bronx. Frente Popular rated him as a revolutionary cartoonist” (“Jerónimo Villarino” 1937: 10). Couto would be considered as an “enlightened worker,” a concept suggested by Jorell Meléndez Badillo to define workers who adopt new identities in their free time which were denied during the workday.



News Image


Hitler is sitting on a throne of skulls and wears a Viking hat under the sun with the swastika on it. Two commanders of the SS are next to him. The footnote says, "The NEW ORDER 'Emperor' shows his true colors with his 'victorious' commanders.


Francoist Machine to Make Laws


A member of Franco's regime pours ingredients provided by sixteen committees into a machine that dispatches laws with the titles "Injustice," "Stupidity," "Abominations," "Indecencies.”


The Force of Destiny


The cartoon illustrates the essay "Russia and Peace.”. The caption reads "Standing on the shoulders of the traitor Francisco Franco, the totalitarian goes straight to the cliff.”


The Totalitarian Beast


The Capitoline Wolf is standing on "The Berlin-Rome Axis." It carries a medal with the swastika, a skull, and a Roman bundle.


God in Heaven and Hitler on Earth


Hitler is drawn as a monstrous king of Earth, which he keeps chained in his hand. He is surrounded by snakes, skulls, and symbols of death and war.


Mussolini


Mussolini raises his arm in the Nazi salute dressed as an ancient Roman Emperor. He is holding a Roman bundle and standing on the globe and on the people.


Confederate Hispanic Soci­eties


An allegorical drawing of Spain with Stuka planes flying over it, and plagued with death, plague, hunger, poverty, and cold weather. Frente Popular’s front page announces the fundraising for Spanish children. Packets with clothes, milk, supplies, toys, and medicines are piling up.


No Commentary is Needed for a Committed Crime


Allegorical drawing of Hitler occupying Czechoslovakia. He is drawn as a satyr and he has sacrificed peace and Czechoslovakia on a sacrificial altar that is covered by the Treaty of Munich.


Czechoslovakia


Czechoslovakia is drawn as a woman symbol of the republic. England and France sell her to Hitler, who takes her while he hides a dagger behind his back.


Where European Modern Fascism was born and where it dies!


Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini are drawn as baby snakes hatching from eggs in Germany and Italy. Once in Spain, these snakes are decapitated.


A Precursor of the Anthropophagy that Return


Adolf Hitler is drawn as a prehistoric man eating human flesh. The leg he is eating is "imported from Barcelona." A river of blood runs to the forefront.


How the Duce Rewards Sacrifice


Benito Mussolini is giving the Italian people fishbones while he spends the country's wealth in war armament. The people ask for clemency and the Duce says sacrifices must be made for Italy.


Where are do you take us?


Franco is driving a carriage pulled by his supporters. It contains a big bag of dollars for fascist countries, the monarchy, the aristocracy, and the economic elite. It has the Spanish flag, and the Falangist motto "Arriba España," a Catholic cross, and a swastika. The legend ironically says "To a Happy Spain".


Anti-fascist Graphic


A Bishop blesses a soldier of Franco's Moorish Guard. The soldier is standing on Jesus Christ on the crucifix. He is leaning on a bayonet that stabs God in the face. The legend says "I bless you in the name of our Lord."


Queipo


Queipo de Llano is drawn as Hitler's parrot that victimizes Spaniards after praying and drinking cognac. The caption says "Queipo de Llano, the parrot of Sevilla, drawn by our comrade Couto".


Culture


An Italian fascist in the Spanish Civil war burns books but is killed.


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