The endless game (1906)

In the captivating illustration, "The Endless Game," artist Samuel Ehrhart delves into the pervasive nature of political influence within the police force at the turn of the 20th century. Through clever and satirical artwork, Ehrhart portrays police officers as pawns on a chessboard, highlighting the manipulation and control exerted by political forces depicted by a giant hand maneuvering these figures.Ehrhart's use of a chessboard lays the foundation for his critique, symbolizing the strategic and calculating moves in political gamesmanship. Each officer stands on a square labeled with terms like "inspector," "sergeant," and "captain," indicating their roles and positions, as well as other more suggestive terms like "political pull," and names of various districts and notorious areas, reflecting the direct interference of political powers in the operational aspects of the police department.The arresting visual of a hand adorned with a cufflink reading "Reform," moving the officers, further intensifies the irony. This element suggests that despite purported intentions towards reform and better governance, the actual practices betray a stark manipulation and control, rendering reforms superficial or even hypocritical."The Endless Game" serves as a striking historical reflection on the challenges of ensuring genuine governance reforms in the face of entrenched political interests.