Judge — October 18, 1884 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon, signed by Hamilton, depicts a figure in classical/military dress painting or unveiling a portrait of another bearded man's head. The caption reads "BEHIND THE SCREEN! the head of the ticket." The satire appears to criticize political image-making or manipulation—suggesting that a candidate's public persona ("the head of the ticket") is artificially constructed or painted over the true figure. The classical setting and theatrical props (canvas, brush, ornate costume) emphasize the artificiality of political presentation. Without seeing the date clearly, the specific political figures remain unclear, but the cartoon mocks how political campaigns manufacture candidate images for public consumption, contrasting hidden reality with carefully curated public appearance.