Sfântul Sinod (The Holy Synod)

Paul Zamfiropol-Dall's colored lithograph depicts Romanian Orthodox ecclesiastical figures in caricatured form—exaggerated facial features, prominent beards, and hierarchical positioning that emphasizes their authority. The inscription references church governance and moral hypocrisy, common targets of early 20th-century political satire. This work participates in the long European tradition of religious and institutional critique through caricature, descending from Gillray and Daumier through German Bilderbogen broadsheets. The artist uses visual exaggeration to challenge clerical power structures within Romanian society. Such prints functioned as accessible political commentary for popular audiences before the rise of editorial cartooning and comics.