This sweeping two-page Puck illustration captures the full energy and contradiction of American public life in the early 1890s. Joseph Keppler fills the scene with a dense crowd of characters—politicians, immigrants, performers, soldiers, photographers, and everyday strivers—each animated under the shade of two large trees by the water. The composition unfolds as a lively panorama of humor, ambition, and social tension, rendered with Puck’s characteristic blend of mischief and sharp observation.
At first glance, it resembles a festive gathering. Look closer and it becomes a commentary on how national myths are staged, who participates in the civic spectacle, and how easily public enthusiasm spills into disorder. Keppler’s work has a way of exposing the performance of power with clarity and wit.
Drawn from an original issue preserved in the archives, this journal carries forward the color, movement, and crowded storytelling of one of Puck’s most ambitious ensemble scenes. A distinctive companion for notes, ideas, or daily reflections.
Casewrap sewn binding | Vibrant, crisp vintage tones | Blank | 5x7 in.
This sweeping two-page Puck illustration captures the full energy and contradiction of American public life in the early 1890s. Joseph Keppler fills the scene with a dense crowd of characters—politicians, immigrants, performers, soldiers, photographers, and everyday strivers—each animated under the shade of two large trees by the water. The composition unfolds as a lively panorama of humor, ambition, and social tension, rendered with Puck’s characteristic blend of mischief and sharp observation.
At first glance, it resembles a festive gathering. Look closer and it becomes a commentary on how national myths are staged, who participates in the civic spectacle, and how easily public enthusiasm spills into disorder. Keppler’s work has a way of exposing the performance of power with clarity and wit.
Drawn from an original issue preserved in the archives, this journal carries forward the color, movement, and crowded storytelling of one of Puck’s most ambitious ensemble scenes. A distinctive companion for notes, ideas, or daily reflections.
Casewrap sewn binding | Vibrant, crisp vintage tones | Blank | 5x7 in.
