The Wicked Stepmother 1909 - 1913

Curator: This drawing, titled "The Wicked Stepmother" by Herbert Johnson, made sometime between 1909 and 1913, really speaks to the turbulent world of politics... quite literally perhaps, judging by the inclement weather. What jumps out at you, Editor? Editor: I notice the sharp lines right away – so many rapid, etched lines. The composition overall conveys a feeling of chaos, reflecting the unsettled political climate, maybe? And clearly communicates the subjects. Is it rendered in ink? Curator: Yes, all in ink, capturing the essence of caricature to perfection. There's a girl huddled with a small dog being forced out in the storm. She carries a sign that says "Roosevelt Policies". I sense a touch of cruelty. Do you get the same impression from the linework and composition? Editor: Oh, absolutely! And that stepmother, huge in the doorway, adorned with a "Cannon" ribbon... it reads like she's actively barring entry. She's physically pushing "Roosevelt Policies" out in the cold rain. The textures create a visually imposing figure, while emphasizing class and the social stratification being depicted. Curator: Precisely. Johnson really draws on class commentary in his narrative, playing with popular political sentiments of the era. I can almost feel the chill and injustice radiating from the scene. It makes you wonder about the laborious hours that must have been dedicated to hatching each and every line... especially for a transient piece of art. Editor: Definitely highlights that tension between labor and disposable media. Newspaper ink, cheap paper... juxtaposed with the intensive time put in by the artist. Yet its legacy continues as we consider its composition and materials even now! Curator: It really does bring home how political anxieties can become embedded in an object, however fragile or fleeting. To think about Johnson meticulously crafting each line… that intentionality truly gives the caricature a lasting and almost chilling resonance. Editor: The level of intent put into this particular drawing challenges that traditional split between labor and the media’s shelf life; an important facet of this work that lingers still!