A Little Lesson in Cause and Effect

Date1912

Artist Samuel D. Ehrhart (American illustrator, 1862–1937)

Illustration CitationBack cover of Puck, October 16, 1912

MediumCommercial relief process with hand-coloring

Dimensionscomposition: 10 15/16 × 8 1/16 in. (27.8 × 20.5 cm)
sheet: 14 5/16 × 11 1/4 in. (36.4 × 28.6 cm)

Credit LineGift of Helen Farr Sloan, 1979

Object number1979-95

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPRINT

Label TextHigh tariffs on imported goods were an issue early in the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, who contended that they favored big business at the expense of American consumers. The characters in Ehrhart's cartoon act out another result of tariff "walls", as now-hostile nations must pour money into military defenses. Mars, the god of war, peers down at European nations assembled at the London Peace Conference of 1912, which was dealing with territorial adjustments among European nations. As they negotiate a treaty, he warns them that high tariffs will damage trading relations.

Founded in 1876 as a German publication, Puck published the first English-language edition the following year.The magazine Puck took its name from Shakespeare’s sprite in Midsummer Night’s Dream. Puck’s observation “What fools these mortals be!” appeared on the masthead. A pioneer in color printing, Puck included full color lithographs on the front and back covers and as centerspreads. In 1901, the magazine began offering past drawings for sale as original artworks.