Bruin in his Boat Possibly 1806

"Bruin in his Boat, or, The Manager in Distress" is an 1806 satirical cartoon by James Gillray. The artwork depicts a scene of British Prime Minister William Pitt, represented by a bear, struggling to steer his ship through stormy seas. Gillray utilizes exaggerated caricatures, symbolic imagery and sharp wit to lampoon Pitt's political decisions, which he felt were jeopardizing Britain's national security. The print, held in the Art Institute of Chicago, is a powerful example of Gillray's influence on British political discourse and a fascinating window into early 19th-century political satire.