The Republican Pharisees, from Puck n.d.

This is Joseph Keppler's satirical lithograph, a monochrome print accented with pale watercolor washes. The composition divides the scene sharply: on the left, an upright figure gestures towards a procession of men advancing to the right, towards what appears to be a church entrance. Keppler uses line and form to dissect the hypocrisy of Republican politicians. Notice how the repeated, bowed postures and clasped hands create a visual rhythm, yet the striped suit of one figure introduces a jarring discord. The text, acting as a semiotic anchor, names the group as 'Pharisees', undermining their piety. The bag of money and the labels pinned to the men’s coats add further layers of irony. The artist constructs an unsettling dialogue between outward appearances and hidden motives. The figures' rigid formality contrasts with the corruption they represent, exposing a deep cultural critique. This tension is not just aesthetic, but a challenge to the very values the politicians claim to uphold.