The gospel according to ‘St. John’ (1905)

John'" by Udo Keppler"The Gospel According to 'St. John', crafted by Udo Keppler in 1905, stands out as a vivid satirical cartoon that highlights the intertwining of corporate greed with missionary work in the early 20th century. This painting captures an imposing figure, characterized with a sagely bald head and an aureole, a traditional symbol of sainthood, suggesting an ironic sanctity to his actions. The figure is John D. Rockefeller, depicted as a caricature with exaggerated facial features that stress his dominance and perhaps avarice.He is portrayed awkwardly stepping over a huge millstone labeled 'STANDARD OIL', which is simultaneously crushing and scattering a group of people beneath. In his hands, he grips a money bag marked 'FOREIGN MISSIONS', implicating the use of missionary work as a tool for profit. Rockefeller's other hand holds a Bible pressed firmly against the millstone, implying the misuse of religion to achieve capitalist gains.The detailed imagery serves as a critique of how corporate America, particularly Standard Oil under Rockefeller, exploited religious missions to extend its influence and control, often at the expense of local populations. The scattered coins and desperate, miniature figures in the foreground powerfully convey the destructive impact of such intertwining between capitalism and religion.