Hum-Bug (P. T. Barnum), from the Comic Natural History of the Human Race 1851

This satirical lithograph, “Hum-Bug (P. T. Barnum),” is a caricature of the famous showman P. T. Barnum as a beetle. Created by Henry Louis Stephens in 1851 as part of his “Comic Natural History of the Human Race,” the print is a humorous jab at Barnum’s entrepreneurial spirit, portraying him as a bug that preys on others. The print combines the image of a beetle with Barnum’s portrait, creating a memorable and humorous representation of the showman. Stephens, known for his satirical work, used caricature to criticize and entertain, highlighting the absurdity of human behavior.