The issue of whether, or how much, America should be involved in the business of other countries was a theme that started in the late 19th Century as the country developed a world class Navy and could deliver its might anywhere in the world. The political and philosophical themes of social and economic balance, our international role, political power, riches, poverty, and perceived corruption are part of America's journey and are ongoing and appear in one form or another, in every generation. The power of cartoons was exemplified in 1871, when the corrupt New York political boss William M. Tweed complained of Thomas Nast's cartoons, "I don't care so much what the papers write about me. My constituents can't read. But, damn it, they can see pictures."

Udo J. Keppler, the illustrator, was the son of the founder of Puck Magazine. Born in 1872, he joined the Puck staff as an editorial cartoonist in 1891. He took control of the magazine after his father's death in 1894, and in 1917, sold it to William Randolph Hearst, who shut it down in 1918. This example of his editorial cartooning gives a strong flavor of his style and what might be called "scathing"today.

Puck Magazine was one of the first political satire and humor magazines in America. It started as a German language bi-weekly in St. Louis in 1871. Puck faired badly and quickly folded but the senior Keppler moved the operation to New York City in 1876, and an English-language version first appeared in 1877. It was published in both German and English with the English version fairing poorly until it started to take on such controversial local topics as Tammany Hall corruption, and national issues like Ulysses S. Grant's attempt to win a third term as President. His political cartoons were notoriously biting, garnering much attention for Puck, and he was one of the first artists to use color lithography for caricature. Udo's political cartoon continued the "scathing" characteristics for which Puck became famous.

Medium : 1 print : lithograph, color

Created/Published : June 29, 1904

Creator : Udo J. Keppler, artist, 1872-1956

Housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

Availability: Usually ships in one week

Product #: cph3g06549