Cartoons

War Profiteers (Life Magazine, 1919?)

Although the year 1919 (and spanning throughout much of the Twenties) was a period marked by a strong sense of anti-communism in the United States, the words war profiteer proved to be a term capable of getting a good many people in both camps riled up. This is a fine cartoon by Rollin Kirby that nicely satirizes that low breed of opportunist.


Click here to see how weird the first car radios looked.

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Rea Irvin Did His Bit (Life Magazine, 1917)

Cartoonist Rea Irvin (1881 – 1972) did the work of ten George Creels during America’s participation in the Great War by consistently producing a number of funny gags that served to belittle Imperial Germany. Unlike most cartoonists who were active during the Gilded Age, Irvin has been published at least once a year every year since 1925: he was the creator of ‘Eustice Tilly’ -the Regency dandy who graced the very first cover of THE NEW YORKER that is re-printed every February. Other cartoons in this series are available upon request.

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Lampooning the American Tourists (Punch, 1922)

This gag concerns itself with another kind of American Expeditionary Force – when Pershing’s Doughboys left, they were replaced by the American tourists.


There is another article on this site that states a popular belief held by the Europeans of 1919 that American men were all clean shaven, tended to sport gold teeth, and were most easily recognized by their big tortoise shell glasses; however, this is the first visual manifestation of this caricature that we could find. This cartoonist did not simply believe that this was a fitting description of the white guys, but black guys, too -and the women as well; an entire nation resembling Harold Lloyd.

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Who Won World War One? (Life Magazine, 1927)

Who won the war? asks the satirist Herb Roth (1887 – 1953) in this cartoon that appeared in print ten years after America’s entry into the war.

By the time 1927 rolled around, the popular opinion across the Western world was that the war of 1914 – 1918, and the subsequent peace treaty that followed, was a big mistake that left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Although there was paper work indicating that World War One was victoriously brought to a close by the collective strength of the French, British, and American armies (among other nations) – by the time 1927 rolled around it didn’t feel like anyone’s victory.

Click here if you would like to read about the 1918 Armistice Day celebrations in Paris.


Click here to read about W.W. I art.

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Crown Prince Wilhelm Cartoon (Life Magazine, 1919)

Attached is a caroon created in response to the memoir of Crown Prince Wilhelm (1882-1951), which came out earlier that same year (the review is posted on this site), this cartoon was drawn by Gluyas Williamsstyle=border:none (1888-1982) a cartoonist who is largely remembered by current generations for his contributions to THE NEW YORKER as well as his illustrations for a series of books by humorist Robert Benchley. In 1910, Williams served as Editor of ‘The Harvard Lampoon’ and upon graduation a year later began a brilliant freelance career as a cartoonist for ‘The Century Magazine’, ‘Collier’s’ and ‘Judge’ among others.

Click here to read about the woman who entertained the U.S. troops during the First World War.

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