Judge, 1908-12-26 · page 10 of 17
Judge — December 26, 1908 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This six-panel comic strip satirizes both pretentious art world hustlers and a con-artist protagonist. "Nervy Nat" (the main character) infiltrates a gallery and artist's studio, posing as a wealthy patron interested in purchasing art. He manipulates an actual artist into showing him his work, then dons artistic accessories to appear legitimate himself. The satire targets: (1) credulous wealthy collectors easily fooled by appearance and artist mystique; (2) struggling artists desperate enough to deceive potential buyers; (3) the pretension surrounding modern art criticism ("brushologist," "eccentric millionaire"). Nat's ultimate scheme involves abandoning the artist after arranging a meet-up, leaving only a note claiming urgent business in Hoboken—a classic con. The humor lies in how easily the entire art establishment can be manipulated through mere costume and confidence, suggesting the art world operates on bluff rather than genuine merit or knowledge.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Js me that | have not taken in an exhibition this winter—here grace this dump with my presence and see what the brushologist has to hand ou Ha! what have we here, a Salome danseuse, of a portrait of Vere I cursed with money I'd buy that. * ere ’s where I steer yon connoisseur to my studio and make a sale. He’s an eccentric millionaire, mayhap. e-looking maid. Wer 3. Artist cigars. 5. Visiter—“ Are you the artist that painted that charm pastoral I just viewed in 1 give you fifty dol iM it secure it for me?” “WILL ITY 4. Nervy Nat—“So this is an astist’s abattoir, or whatever they call it. 1 just donned these accessories to find out what it felt like to be an artist. What's that knock at the door? It may be the rent man, and I’m stuck. 1 wonder if that geek was an artist, or if he had ulterior designs on me. I'll take a chance—entrez 6. Nervy Nat—‘Some people achieve ten-spots, other people acquire ten- spots, and some people have ten-spots thrust upon them—that ’s me. [will just leave a little billy ducks here for Mr. Naples Yellow to this effect—' Am sorry L was suddenly called to Hoboken by a wireless and leave immediately ‘on an express tow-boat. If you will meet me to-morrow at two p. m., corner of Riverside Drive and Bleecker Street, we will fix up the deal.” ** NO, 7I—-NERVY NAT FINDS A LITTLE MONEY IN ART. COPYRICHT, 188, WY JUDGE COMPANY, PURLISIERS 295 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK,