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The great powers of Europe, brandishing knives, competing to carve up China: Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II, and Czar Nicolas II. Marianne of France looks on, supporting her Russian ally. Japan contemplates what move to make, while a caricature of China is dismayed but powerless.
From a scholar at the University of Michigan, I have learned that a "gateau des Rois" is a specific type of cake baked to celebrate Epiphany (both the day and the season), when the Three Kings arrived at the manger and paid their respect to baby Jesus. The gateau des rois, or galette des rois, is baked with a token inside it, and whoever finds the token is "crowned" king or queen for the day. The specific day of Epiphany is variable but falls in early to mid January, consistent with the publication date of this work on January 16, 1898. So, at a time when France is celebrating Epiphany, the French artist depicts China as an Epiphany Cake, with all the Great Powers hoping that their piece of cake will have the token and they will be the dominant power in China.
Even today the European powers, along with the US, have not given up on this 'project'.
Source: Le Petit Journal, January 16, 1898
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