The National Barber Shop - Next

Editor: So, this is *The National Barber Shop - Next*, a lithograph print by Joseph Keppler. There’s such a busy-ness to this work! It feels very chaotic and critical of… well, *something*. What exactly do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, Keppler. It screams satire, doesn't it? Look at Uncle Sam, ready to ‘groom’ another figure—likely representing a political candidate or policy. Notice the faces around him. Each holds such strong expressions: disdain, curiosity, maybe even boredom. For me, this piece sparks a memory; once, I walked into a small-town barber shop in Iowa, expecting a quick trim, only to find myself in the middle of a heated debate about…organic farming. What do *you* think Keppler is satirizing? Editor: That's quite vivid. It strikes me that the environment is very masculine – like a political men's club or something similar. Maybe the work takes aim at some contemporary debate regarding voting rights, or the treatment of former Confederate states? Curator: Exactly! That "National Barber Shop" is America, its states, all up for a shave. The smaller figure at the bottom... how does he affect *your* reading? Editor: Hmmm…perhaps symbolizing a constituency, maybe newly freed slaves, watching and waiting? I now realize it’s the *waiting* that gives it that edge. Curator: The work reminds us that art is rarely a neutral space; instead, it actively engages and invites discussion. It may even be making its *own* decisions! It makes you think differently about getting a haircut, right? Editor: For sure! Seeing the lithograph come alive through political and social contexts gives me so much to think about for future readings. Thank you!