Judge — February 16, 1889 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a political cartoon from *Judge* magazine (February 16, 1889) satirizing French anxieties about military strongmen. The central figure appears to be a caricatured general on horseback, wielding a sword—likely referencing General Boulanger, a popular French military figure who threatened republican stability in the late 1880s through his nationalist appeal and hints at authoritarianism. The sleeping female figure beneath represents "France" (personified as Liberty or the Republic), vulnerable to being trampled. The nightmare imagery suggests French fear that excessive military power could destroy democratic institutions. The "Bergantile Library" stamp indicates this was archived for historical research purposes.