Opening of the opera season - drilling the merry villagers / L.M. Glackens.
Summary
Illustration shows President William H. Taft directing male and female dancers on a stage in a production of "Princess Prosperity", a script for which he is holding in his right hand. The male dancers hold empty wallets and the female dancers each carry a "Family Market Basket", which is also empty.
Caption: Stage-Director Taft Smile! Smile like I do! Smile all - Smile!
Illus. in: Puck, v. 66, no. 1697 (1909 September 8), cover.
Copyright 1909 by Keppler & Schwarzmann.
It wasn't really until the 1700s that caricature truly blossomed as a form of political criticism. In the late 1750s, a man named Thomas Townshend began using the techniques employed by earlier engravers and applying them towards a political model. This gave Thompson's cartoons a much greater feeling of propaganda than previous artistic critiques of the time. The intense political climate of the period, and often accusatory nature of most political cartoons forced many artists to use pseudonyms in order to avoid accusations of libel. Other artists took it a step farther, and left their cartoons completely unsigned, foregoing any credit they may have received. Political higher-ups were notoriously touchy about their reputations and were not afraid to make examples of offenders. Puck was the first successful humor magazine in the United States of colorful cartoons, caricatures and political satire of the issues of the day. It was published from 1871 until 1918.
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