Solitaire (1903)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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John Samuel Pughe's 1903 political satire "Solitaire" captures a moment infused with symbolic meaning and humor, presented in the vivid and engaging style characteristic of Puck magazine's colorful lithographs. At the heart of this artwork is a giant elephant, adorned with a sash that reads "G.O.P.," clearly representing the Republican Party. In an illustrative twist, the elephant is engrossed in playing a game of solitaire, with cards that feature caricatures of prominent political figures of the time, including Theodore Roosevelt.The setting of the piece includes a background glimpse of the Capitol, hinting at the governmental and political context of the illustration. The elephant’s focused and perhaps solitary endeavor at the card table alludes to the political maneuvers and strategies often undertaken by parties behind closed doors. Pughe’s work is not just a critique but a playful poke at the political landscape of early 20th century America, inviting viewers to reflect on the games of politics through an engaging and light-hearted lens.
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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.