Legalized Plunderers, from Puck
1880
Medium
Color lithograph on newsprint
Dimensions
30.7 × 47 cm (12 1/8 × 18 9/16 in.)
Classification
lithograph
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
129233
Art Historical Context
"Legalized Plunderers a vibrant color lithograph from the satirical magazine *Puck*, captures the sharp wit of 1880s American commentary. Published during the Gilded Age—a time of rapid industrialization, political corruption, and economic disparity—this print on newsprint (30.7 × 47 cm) likely skewers figures or institutions seen as exploiting the public under the guise of legality. *Puck*, launched in 1877, was a trailblazing periodical known for its bold cartoons that poked fun at politicians, robber barons, and social issues, making complex critiques accessible to everyday readers. The me...