Judge — July 13, 1907 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Democratic Lemon" — Judge, July 13, 1907 This is a caricature by artist Zim depicting what the caption calls "The Democratic Lemon"—a grotesque figure in formal attire with exaggerated, ugly facial features. The "lemon" metaphor refers to something defective or worthless. Published in 1907, during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, this satirizes the Democratic Party as unattractive or undesirable to voters. The formal dress suggests a political candidate or party leadership. Judge was a Republican-leaning publication, so this represents partisan mockery of the opposition. The grotesque caricature style was common in Gilded Age political satire, though by modern standards the exaggerated physiognomy would be considered crude and offensive.