The Ambitious Ones
1903
Fernand Louis Gottlob serves up a slice of Belle Époque satire in this 1903 illustration titled 'Les ambitieux' (The Ambitious Ones). Two men—one seated wearily on a crate, the other standing in a top hat—surround a scattered collection of pots and pipes, looking like ordinary nobodies watching a distant parade. However, the caption at the bottom, referencing the 1903 visit of the King of Italy to Paris, reveals their delusion: upon seeing the grand ovations for heads of state, one declares he 'wasn't made for the second-hand trade,' implying he deserves such glory instead of a humble life. It’s a witty poke at the gap between humble reality and grand political dreams.
Views: 2