1889 Judge Magazine | Satire of political machines trying to revive a disgraced party boss | 15oz
$19.00
Trying to Fish McGinty from the Bottom of the Sea appeared in Judge Magazine in 1889, during an era when American politics was drenched in patronage, bribery, and machine control. “McGinty” was Judge’s running symbol for the incompetent, scandal-ridden party boss who keeps dragging his allies down with him. Here he sits literally on the ocean floor—entangled in wreckage and corruption—while party operatives desperately try to haul him back to the surface. The message was unmistakable then, and still relevant today: you can’t rescue a sinking political machine by pretending it isn’t sinking. Judge’s artists used humor to expose the cowardice of politicians who protect failed leaders instead of confronting the rot that keeps dragging democracy under.
A restored piece of original resistance art—real ink, real history, no AI.
Size:
Color:
Trying to Fish McGinty from the Bottom of the Sea appeared in Judge Magazine in 1889, during an era when American politics was drenched in patronage, bribery, and machine control. “McGinty” was Judge’s running symbol for the incompetent, scandal-ridden party boss who keeps dragging his allies down with him. Here he sits literally on the ocean floor—entangled in wreckage and corruption—while party operatives desperately try to haul him back to the surface. The message was unmistakable then, and still relevant today: you can’t rescue a sinking political machine by pretending it isn’t sinking. Judge’s artists used humor to expose the cowardice of politicians who protect failed leaders instead of confronting the rot that keeps dragging democracy under.
A restored piece of original resistance art—real ink, real history, no AI.
Image 1 of 16
Image 2 of 16
Image 3 of 16
Image 4 of 16
Image 5 of 16
Image 6 of 16
Image 7 of 16
Image 8 of 16
Image 9 of 16
Image 10 of 16
Image 11 of 16
Image 12 of 16
Image 13 of 16
Image 14 of 16
Image 15 of 16
Image 16 of 16