Merely another figurehead (1903)

Technique: Giclée quality print
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More about this artwork

"Merely another figurehead" (1903) by Udo Keppler is a vibrant and evocative piece that uses symbolism and satire to comment on political dynamics of its time. The painting prominently features an elaborately dressed pirate, representing a metaphorical figure of authority and manipulation, wielding an axe to remove a figurehead from a ship labelled "TAMMANY." The figurehead, now detached and falling, is depicted as a smaller, seemingly insignificant man smoking a pipe, symbolizing a political leader being displaced or discarded.In the lower part of the painting, a disheveled man lies on the ground, his features and clothing suggesting he, too, is a victim or a discarded element of the political process. Various tools and a discarded crown lie around him, indicating the often destructive and chaotic nature of political power struggles.Keppler’s work is known for its incisive critique of political corruption and the dynamics of power within the political machine of Tammany Hall, a symbol of political manipulation and corruption in New York City at the turn of the 20th century. The scene captures with a touch of humor and significant irony, the transient nature of power and the cyclical process of political leaders being raised and then cast aside.

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Udo J. Keppler, since 1894. known as Joseph Keppler, Jr., was an American political cartoonist, publisher, and Native American advocate. The son of cartoonist Joseph Keppler (1838–1894), who founded Puck magazine, the younger Keppler also contributed to cartoons, and after his father's death became co-owner of the magazine under the name Joseph Keppler. He was also a collector of Native American artifacts.