The Republican Dalilah Stealthily the Democratic Sampson of his Strength, from Puck Possibly 1880

Joseph Keppler made this color lithograph, published in Puck magazine, using a process that allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive production of images for mass consumption. The medium itself is central to the work’s message. Lithography enabled the widespread dissemination of political commentary. The sharp lines and vibrant colors—achieved through layering different lithographic stones—draw the viewer's eye, while the caricatured figures and symbolic objects amplify the cartoon's satirical intent. The artist would have likely worked with skilled printers, dividing labor to prepare the stones, apply the inks, and operate the printing press. The act of printing—multiplying an image for broad distribution—mirrors the political act Keppler critiques: the Republican party undermining the Democratic party. The very nature of the lithograph, a product of industrial processes, underscores the relationship between media, politics, and power in a rapidly changing society. Looking closely at the materials and mode of production, we recognize how deeply intertwined art, politics, and the industrial revolution were in shaping public opinion.