Judge — July 12, 1919 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Cartoon Analysis This July 1919 *Judge* cartoon depicts two barrel-shaped figures personifying Germany and Austria, labeled with their country names. Germany (left) appears smaller and distressed, while Austria (right) stands taller, pointing and laughing. The caption reads "Germany—What Are You Laughing At?" The satire likely references the post-WWI peace treaties being negotiated (Treaty of Versailles signed June 1919). Austria, despite also being defeated, appears to mock Germany's seemingly worse position. The barrel imagery suggests both nations are "bottled up" or constrained by war consequences, though Austria appears smugly amused by Germany's apparently greater suffering or harsher treaty terms. The cartoon mocks Austria's schadenfreude toward its former ally's misfortune.