After Election, from Puck Possibly 1890

Joseph Keppler made this print, ‘After Election,’ for Puck magazine in the United States in 1890. The illustration captures the political and social dynamics of the time, especially the relationship between labor, agriculture, and political promises. Keppler uses visual codes to represent the disillusionment following an election. The signs reading “McKinley Low Wages” and “McKinley High Prices” comment on the broken promises made to both the working class and farmers, and highlight the economic anxieties prevalent in American society at the time. Puck magazine was known for its satirical take on political issues. By examining sources from the period, like news articles, political pamphlets, and other examples of graphic satire, we can better understand the social commentary embedded in Keppler's work, and appreciate how it reflects the political climate of the late 19th century.