A new bull in the ring
1882
Welcome to the wildest political rodeo of the Gilded Age! In this 1882 satire from *Puck* magazine, the Republican Party—depicted as a massive beast covered in scandal labels like 'Credit Mobilier' and 'Whisky Ring'—is being violently tossed into the air. Below, a matador representing a 'New Party' rides a charging bull into the arena, while a weary Democrat clings to a donkey. Artist Friedrich Graetz perfectly captures the chaos of 19th-century politics, where third parties and scandals constantly threatened to upend the traditional two-party system.
- Technique
- Color Lithograph
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