When McKinley is president (1896)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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Artist: John Samuel PugheThe artwork "When McKinley is President" by John Samuel Pughe, created in 1896, provides a satirical and thought-provoking glimpse into the artist's perspective on the American political landscape of the late 19th century. This richly colored illustration features two central figures: a robust man brandishing a cane and sporting a top hat labeled "Monopoly," and a visibly dejected, weary Uncle Sam, sitting on the steps leading to the White House, which is labeled in the background.The figure symbolizing Monopoly exudes an air of confident control, representing the powerful industrial magnates and monopolists who were believed to wield considerable influence over American politics and economics during William McKinley's presidency. In stark contrast, Uncle Sam, an embodiment of the American government and spirit, appears haggard and despondent, reflecting concerns about the potential erosion of democratic values and governmental autonomy in the face of rising corporate power.This painting poignantly captures the tensions of an era where economic interests and political governance were increasingly intertwined, invoking reflections on the balance between capitalism and democracy.
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John Samuel Pughe, was a Welsh-born American political cartoonist, best known for his illustrations for Puck magazine.
John Samuel Pughe was born in Dolgelley, Merionethshire, Wales, and brought to America by his parents when he was two years old. He studied art at Cooper Union.
J. S. Pughe illustrated news stories for the New York Recorder, Brooklyn Life, and the Brooklyn edition of the World as a young man. He began working at Puck magazine in 1894. He was a regular contributor there until his last cartoon for them, in December 1908.
Pughe died in 1909, age 38, at Lakehurst, New Jersey, where he had been spending several months to improve his health.