The central bank
1910
In this biting 1910 political cartoon for Puck magazine, a colossal, mustachioed banker looms over a cityscape of skyscrapers labeled 'Billion Dollar Bank & Mercer.' His massive hands reach down to overshadow a tiny child clutching a humble piggy bank marked '10% Bank,' perfectly capturing the era's anxiety about monopolies and the crushing power of big finance. Australian-born artist Frank Nankivell used this striking visual metaphor to critique how giant financial institutions were swallowing up smaller competitors and dominating the American economy during the Progressive Era. It's a classic example of how magazine covers served as the political memes of their day!
- Technique
- Color lithograph
Views: 3