The State Waggoner and John Bull.–or–the Waggon too Much for the Donkeys! 1804

Curator: James Gillray crafted this etching in 1804, a biting commentary titled "The State Waggoner and John Bull--or--The Waggon too Much for the Donkeys!" Currently, it resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Whoa, what a mess! It feels so overloaded, and chaotic. Like a political cartoon equivalent of a toddler's playroom. What’s going on here? Curator: Well, let’s dissect this visual metaphor. The "British State Waggon" is bogged down in the "slough," weighed down by bags labeled 'Defense' and 'Invasion,' suggesting perhaps overspending on military ventures. We also see John Bull desperately trying to pull the waggon out with donkeys. Gillray here critiques the political landscape, showcasing how the common person is stuck bearing the burden of government excesses, literally mired in mud. Editor: The way he's depicted as straining...you can almost *feel* his exhaustion. And all those horses at the top of the hill? They look pretty smug, up there judging everyone's hard work. And that title is killing me! "The Waggon too Much for the Donkeys"--hilarious and pointed. I mean, the satire's as thick as the mud in the print, right? Curator: Precisely! Gillray masterfully uses caricature. The donkeys straining under the weight are probably a visual critique of ministers, but, with the addition of the detail with horses who “do nothing at all”, we can argue he’s depicting members of the aristocracy, safely removed from the fiscal consequences of governmental policy while those such as “Johnny Bull” pay for it with his literal blood, sweat, and tears. Note that in terms of aesthetic, the etching belongs to the broader category of Romanticism. Editor: Absolutely. It feels pretty timeless, doesn't it? That constant tension between the people doing the work and the elites enjoying the benefits, a theme that is eternally ripe for a cartoon. Although Gillray has certainly provided the cartoon! Curator: Definitely. I think Gillray would feel right at home with our modern political cartoons. The struggle for balance continues. Editor: Indeed. So, next time I feel bogged down, I will make sure to picture that waggon loaded with a metaphor, thanks, James.