The making of a senator (1898)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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Titled "The Making of a Senator," this distinctive 1898 artwork by Udo Keppler offers a compelling visual satire, ripe with political commentary. The painting portrays a large, daunting ship bearing a striking figurehead of a serene, regal woman on its prow, perhaps symbolizing justice or the nation itself. This figurehead merges the elements of classical sculpture with the industrial robustness of the ironclad ship, emblematic of the era's technological advancement and the entrenchment of significant political powers.Intriguingly, to one side of the ship, a small man—seemingly a carpenter or shipbuilder—attends to his workbench, diligently crafting or repairing a small component of the giant vessel. This character may represent the common man or the grassroots mechanisms in politics, highlighting his minimal yet essential role in the grander scale of political operations, where much larger forces dominate the scene.This piece subtly critiques the processes and influences in political ascension, suggesting that the making of a senator involves complex, often overshadowed activities that contribute to a larger, more visible power structure.
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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.