Judge — June 9, 1923 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "English Spoken Here!" by Ralph Barton This cartoon satirizes **Joseph Conrad**, the famous Polish-born novelist who was visiting America. The caricature exaggerates Conrad's facial features—particularly his prominent nose and beard—in a style typical of early 20th-century satirical art. The joke hinges on Conrad's **thick accent and difficulty with English**, despite being celebrated as a great artist. The title "English Spoken Here!" is ironic: the cartoon suggests that even in America, one might struggle to understand Conrad's speech. The naval setting references his recent dramatization of his novel "The Secret Agent." The satire gently mocks the contrast between Conrad's literary genius and his accessibility to English-speaking audiences.