The Wickersham will git yer if yer don’t — watch — out! (1911)

Udo Keppler's 1911 painting "The Wickersham will git yer if yer don’t — watch — out!" is a vibrant and intriguing piece that captures the spirit of political and social commentary through visual art. Depicted within the urban setting of a bustling city street, the painting prominently features a fantastical creature labeled as "Wickersham." This character, with its mischievous and slightly malevolent appearance, soaring with bat-like wings and a pointed hat, seems to play the role of an overbearing overseer or regulator.Keppler portrays Wickersham clutching papers marked "Dissolution" and "Disintegration," symbolizing the disruption and chaos the creature is capable of imposing on the entities below, namely "Trusts" and "Sherman" as labeled on the briefcase it carries. The crowd of panicked people running below, trying to evade the creature's menacing presence, adds a sense of urgency and fear, illustrating the public's reaction to regulatory interventions or changes that might have been perceived as threatening or oppressive during the era.Through this painting, Keppler, known for his pointed political cartoons, utilizes allegory and satire to comment on the governmental and legislative actions of his time, possibly critiquing the application and impact of the Sherman Antitrust Act on businesses and society.