A phase of our tax system – the greater the service, the heavier the tax (1911)

The intricate illustration titled "A phase of our tax system – the greater the service, the heavier the tax" by Udo Keppler, produced in 1911, vividly encapsulates a critical commentary on the social and economic disparities of the time. This painting captures a considerable figure, likely representing a wealthy landlord or business magnate, seated comfortably atop a massive chair, surrounded by the high-rise buildings of an urban landscape. This individual, with a somewhat indifferent expression, holds a satchel overflowing with coins, depicting the wealth amassed from rentals or properties.In stark contrast, the foreground of the painting illustrates two elderly individuals, offering a visual of desperation and helplessness. These figures appear to be handing out pamphlets labeled "Charity Homes & Hospitals,” serving as a powerful symbol of reliance on private charity in the absence of substantial support from the wealthy. The landlord's careless handling of bountiful wealth juxtaposed against the struggling couple starkly highlights the disparity in the quality of life and the burden of financial injustice.This scene, set against the backdrop of a densely packed urban area, not only portrays the stark divide between wealth and poverty but also critiques the taxation system that perhaps favors the affluent, intimating that those who provide greater service to the economy supposedly bear a heavier tax, yet seem untouched by the same.