Opper, Frederick Burr (sold)
Frederick Burr Opper (January 2, 1857 – August 28, 1937) was an American artist and pioneer of the American newspaper comic strip, best known for his successful Happy Hooligan. His oeuvre encompassed humorous magazine cartoons, covers, political cartoons and comic strips spanning sixty years. The eldest of three children born to Austrian-American immigrants Lewis and Aurelia Burr Oppers in Madison, Ohio, he dropped out of school at fourteen to work as a printer's apprentice at the local Madison Gazette. Two years later he moved to New York City where he worked day jobs while continuing to draw. He studied briefly at Cooper Union, and worked briefly under illustrator Frank Beard. Opper's first cartoon was published in Wild Oats in 1876, after which he received regular work from Scribner’s Monthly and St. Nicholas Magazine. He worked steadily for Leslie's Weekly (1877 to 1880) but found a home employer with Puck Magazine for 18 years, drawing spot illustrations, color centerfold spreads, and covers. With Puck, Opper blossomed as a satirist, skewering newspaper moguls, politicians, and industrialists while championing 'Mr. Common Man.' His work spread to newspapers around the country, and in numerous books. A professional cartoonist, he painted as a hobby.
Robber Barons carving up the country.
Überlässt ihnen den ganzen Rummel - und damit basta!
sold
- Digital Map Information
- Suitable for large format printing
- Full resolution TIFF file
- ICC color profile embedded
- Delivered instantly via download link
This is an 1882 Frederick Opper Puck political cartoon map of the United States being carved up by Gilded Age millionaires. Published in a German language edition of Puck magazine, the cartoon features robber barons Jay Gould, William Henry Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, and Cyrus West Field dividing the country for personal gain. Vanderbilt physically cuts his slice of the country with a large knife, while Sage taunts European monarchs with proposals for buying Europe. Field and Gould play dice in the Northeast, likely rolling to see who would control what. Railroads, which played a critical role in building these four men's (and others like them) incredible fortunes, appear across the country. (more details)