Law vs. The Gospel- Puck Magazine

This biting chromolithograph from Puck magazine captures the clash between religious fervor and civic authority in Gilded Age America. Eugene Zimmerman, the celebrated caricaturist known as 'Zim,' depicts the Salvation Army as a ragged band of wild-eyed zealots confronting deputies armed with arrest warrants for larceny, breach of promise, and drunk and disorderly conduct. The scene crackles with social tension: the Army's red flags and brass drums meet the law's handcuffs and legal papers on a cobblestone street. Zimmerman's exaggerated physiognomies transform both sides into grotesque archetypes, while readable warrants and signs reward close examination. Even a stray dog flees the impending confrontation. Printed by Mayer, Merkel & Ottmann for Puck's sophisticated urban readership, this print documents the genuine legal battles the Salvation Army faced upon arriving in America in 1880. A striking example of American satirical illustration at its most pointed. Size: 9.75" x 13.0" Artist: Eugene Zimmerman Condition: Very Good