‘Exactly so! I am a Humbug’ 1900

William Wallace Denslow created this illustration for the 1900 edition of ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’. Denslow's whimsical imagery contributed to the book's immediate success, solidifying its place in American popular culture. Denslow’s rendering of the Wizard, with his small stature and spectacles, plays into the idea that authority figures may not be as powerful or knowledgeable as they appear. Here we see the Wizard confronted by Dorothy and her companions, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman. It is a pivotal moment of revelation in the story. The Wizard's claim, "Exactly so! I am a Humbug," is a moment of both comedic relief and profound honesty. Denslow's illustrations invite us to consider the constructed nature of identity and the ways in which appearances can be deceiving. The artist encourages us to look beyond superficial qualities and recognize the humanness in ourselves and others.