Judge, 1903-05-02 · page 16 of 16
Judge — May 2, 1903 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This 1903 Judge comic mocks a working-class character, "Unlucky Luke," who aspires to become a painter despite having no genuine artistic training. The humor derives from his fraudulent credentials: he claims experience at the prestigious Art Students' League, but only worked there as a janitor. The satire targets both Luke's delusional ambition and the broader early-1900s anxiety about social mobility and unqualified people entering professions. Each panel escalates his failures—he misrepresents his credentials, makes a mess of painting work, slips off ladders, and gets repeatedly fired. The implicit joke reflects period class attitudes: working-class individuals lacked the legitimate education to succeed in genteel artistic fields. His repeated humiliations suggest his aspirations are inherently ridiculous, not sympathetic. The cartoon reinforces hierarchies of respectability and "proper" credentials that gatekept professional advancement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
2: Untucky Luce— Kin I paint? Fudge! I worked at the Art Students’ League once (as janitor)" eSNtSEe Sonn li male i) OF LONG PAPERIENCE, r ia 3. Unvucky Lure—"It's acinch! All yer do ts slobber color around an’ not miss enny places.”” 5. 6. —" oo ‘Untuccy Luxe— Bounced agin! I've heard dat artists’ lives wuz Umuvery Luce—“ Ouch! — 1! —1 ts ate UNLUCKY LUKE—HE IS AMBITIOUS OF BECOMING A PAINTER, COPTMGNT 1903 BY JUDGE COMPANY OF MEW YORK. ‘Sackett & Wibelns Litho B Pg Co NewYork. comicbooks.com