Mrs. Partington outdone 1912

Curator: This work is titled "Mrs. Partington Outdone," a drawing and print by Louis Glackens created around 1912. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by this incredible, melancholic blue palette, and how futile and humorous it feels. Is that a woman trying to sweep back the ocean with a broom? What’s the deal? Curator: The artwork satirizes societal efforts to suppress "the tendency of man to gamble," a theme reflected in the inscribed wave. Glackens evokes Mrs. Partington, a literary character famous for trying to push back the Atlantic with a broom during a storm. She's become a symbol of fighting against an overwhelming force. Editor: I see what you mean! And Glackens uses her likeness to personify law enforcement with "Blue Line Enforcement" written across the skirt of her dress, suggesting the futility of policing morality, of sweeping back vice. It feels poignant but also, dare I say, hilarious. Curator: Precisely. Below her broom, labelled puddles denote "Police Graft" and "Gambling House Profits," suggesting corruption undermining the entire moral enterprise. Notice the top hat she wears, a detail that makes the character resemble Uncle Sam. Editor: Right, almost like a critique of institutional corruption within the system! There's a ghostly lighthouse in the background; such a wonderfully despondent scene overall. Curator: Indeed, this piece really exemplifies the political caricature typical of early 20th-century social commentary. Editor: Well, I will walk away mulling on the fact that history might be doomed to repeat itself when our actions become comically futile.