Life, 1884-03-20 · page 3 of 16
Life — March 20, 1884 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "Pork and Painting" Cartoon Analysis This satirical cartoon depicts a conflict between artistic ambition and practical concerns. An aspiring artist (left) complains that their father won't support their marriage because he prefers "good pork to bad pictures"—suggesting the father views the artist's career as economically unviable compared to more reliable work. The joke plays on class anxieties about professional artists' precarious financial status in the late 19th century. "Pork" represents steady, conventional income (possibly literal pork-packing work), while "painting" symbolizes impractical artistic pursuits. The dutiful daughter agrees the father's skepticism is justified, reinforcing period attitudes that art was a frivolous livelihood unsuitable for supporting a family. The cartoon satirizes both paternal pragmatism and societal dismissal of artists' economic viability.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Aspi: ir I WERE Dutiful Daughter : PORK AND PAINTING. ‘ring Artist : A PORK-PACKER LIKE VERY LIKELY NOT. A BAS LE MASQUE! RONDEAU. Al BAS te masque! O, tell me why Your charms are hidden from the eye ! I guess the charms you will not show— I see but two, yet still I know That those I see still more imply. Those saintly fingers cannot lie ; Your form gives promise—bye-and-bye— Of loveliness ; if that be so A bas le masque! The time to doff disguise is nigh ; Let us advance it, you and I. The crowd goes heedless to and fro ; The boon of just one peep bestow ! Consent is meant by no reply— A bas le masgue! ARISTOPHANES. I MUST SAY IT IS VERY INCONSIDERATE OF YOUR FATHER. (Sarcastically) I suppose HIMSELF HE WOULD NOT OBJECT TO OUR MARRIAGE. HE says HE PREFERS GOOD PORK TO BAD PICTURES. THE REPORTER IN CHURCH. (A Soliloquy, Saturday, March —, 188—). §6 (ONFOUND my luck! Have just received orders from headquarters to take in Church of the Holy Holocaust to-morrow and report Rev. Luther Hardshell’s heresies. This knocks all my plans. Had intended writing up next week’s double hanging to-morrow morning. Sermons! Bah! Why they never give more than a quarter of a column toa sermon, while that hanging will require at least three columns. At eight dollars a column that’s just $22 dead loss! ———— ome 1 EO (A Transcript from the Reporter's Notes). ‘© (-HURCH of the Holy Holocaust—deuce of a name! Big congregation. Rev. Luther on deck. * * * Looks mad as * * * * * Nervous old maid in pew with me. Passed me hymn-book. * * * Text: Didn't quite catch. Something like ‘Look before you leap.’ Guess it’s some- where in Proverbs. * * * Bald-headed man in front objects to my breathing on his head. * * * Rev. Luther says some- thing about jaw-bone of an ass. Couldn't make out in what connection. Probably that old Balaam story resurrected. Ah, Thave it! Luther says Balaam never slew that gang with the comicbooks.com