A razor-sharp 1884 Puck satire by Bernhard Gillam, showing politicians dressed as Renaissance courtiers fighting over a gigantic pile of “surplus” gold — the product of over-taxation and government mismanagement. Every figure is a type: the self-satisfied king, the grasping ministers, the scheming advisors, and the theatrical fools begging for their share of the public treasury. The cartoon unmasks a political class more eager to divide spoils than serve citizens. This print comes from a German-language edition of Puck, which kept all the original English captions in the artwork. The German text appears only in the cast list and bottom line — part of the historical publication and preserved here for authenticity. Originally published to expose elite corruption and mock the pageantry of power, it still resonates today. Authoritarians thrive when public wealth becomes private favor, and when government becomes a court of sycophants instead of a service to the people.
This is resistance art with teeth — exposing the kind of corruption that thrives in plain sight.
Durable stainless steel core with enamel finish resists rust and staining | Lead and BPA-free | Not suitable for microwave use | Hand wash only.
A razor-sharp 1884 Puck satire by Bernhard Gillam, showing politicians dressed as Renaissance courtiers fighting over a gigantic pile of “surplus” gold — the product of over-taxation and government mismanagement. Every figure is a type: the self-satisfied king, the grasping ministers, the scheming advisors, and the theatrical fools begging for their share of the public treasury. The cartoon unmasks a political class more eager to divide spoils than serve citizens. This print comes from a German-language edition of Puck, which kept all the original English captions in the artwork. The German text appears only in the cast list and bottom line — part of the historical publication and preserved here for authenticity. Originally published to expose elite corruption and mock the pageantry of power, it still resonates today. Authoritarians thrive when public wealth becomes private favor, and when government becomes a court of sycophants instead of a service to the people.
This is resistance art with teeth — exposing the kind of corruption that thrives in plain sight.
Durable stainless steel core with enamel finish resists rust and staining | Lead and BPA-free | Not suitable for microwave use | Hand wash only.
