On the Road, from Puck 1881

"On the Road" is a satirical cartoon by Joseph Keppler from 1881. It depicts President James A. Garfield as a hiker, struggling up a mountain path with a heavy pack. The caption reads, "CONKLING - "Want a Guide, Sir?" GARFIELD - "No, thank you!" This humorous political cartoon, part of the popular Puck magazine, criticizes Garfield's reliance on his own guidance and ability to handle political pressure during his presidency. The Art Institute of Chicago houses this piece, a testament to the influence of political satire in American art history.