Puck — May 1877 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Great American Dauber at Work" This May 1877 *Puck* cartoon satirizes what appears to be a political figure engaged in whitewashing or covering up scandals. The caricatured man, depicted with exaggerated facial features and a long beard, is literally painting over jars labeled "Scandal," "Appointed Office-Seekers," and "Mixture"—suggesting he's concealing corrupt practices or patronage appointments. The portrait on the wall labeled "The Saint" likely represents an idealized or falsely righteous image the figure wants projected publicly. The overall metaphor is transparent: the cartoon mocks someone using deception or manipulation to hide political misconduct from public view. Without additional context identifying the specific figure, the satire targets corruption and hypocrisy in American politics more broadly.