Another Saint Patrick

Louis Glackens prints bring the colour and sharp humour of America's golden age of political cartoons into your home. Glackens drew for Puck, the country's leading satirical magazine, poking fun at presidents, politicians and the melting pot of New York, and later became one of the first American animators. Our collection of fine art prints includes his Puck covers and centrefolds, Taft-era cartoons and holiday issues.

About Louis Glackens

Louis M. Glackens was born in Philadelphia in 1866. His younger brother was the painter and illustrator William Glackens, later a leading figure of the Ashcan School. He was usually credited as L. M. Glackens.

In the 1890s he began working for Puck, the New York magazine famous for its political and social satire and its bold colour lithographs. His humorous pictures of the city's many ethnic groups reflected the melting pot of New York at the time, and he drew a steady stream of cartoons on presidents, parties, trusts, tariffs and the issues of the day.

When Puck was sold in 1914, Glackens turned to the new art of animation, working for Barré Studio and Bray Productions on some of the earliest American cartoon films, such as A Stone Age Adventure (1915) and How Dizzy Joe Got to Heaven (1916). He also illustrated humorous books, including The Log of the Water Wagon, and drew advertisements for the novelty maker S. S. Adams, inventor of the Joy Buzzer. He died in 1933.

Style and Subjects

Glackens's cartoons are crowded, lively and full of jokes. Politicians appear as animals, children, circus performers or characters from fables and the Bible, drawn with a quick, confident line and printed in the bright flat colours of Puck's chromolithographs.

His figures are caricatures, but warm rather than cruel. Look for Uncle Sam, the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey, President Taft, and seasonal themes such as Thanksgiving and New Year.

Famous Works

• The Republican Hare and the Democratic Tortoise (1908). Aesop's fable retold as an election race between the two parties.
• Uncle Sam's Income (1909). A Puck cartoon on the national finances.
• The Minority (1909). A political cartoon from the Taft years.
• Why Girls Leave Home (1910). A comic take on a popular saying of the day.
• Puck Thanksgiving 1907 (1907). A colourful holiday cover for Puck.
• A Stone Age Adventure (1915). One of his first animated films, made after Puck was sold.

Decorating with Glackens Prints

Glackens's cartoons are natural choices for a study, home office, den or library, especially for anyone who enjoys history and politics. Their bright colours and witty captions make good conversation pieces in a hallway, and a group of Puck covers creates a lively gallery wall.

The holiday issues, such as Thanksgiving Puck, make fun seasonal prints for a dining room or kitchen. Simple black or wood frames suit their vintage print style.

FAQ

Who was Louis Glackens?

Louis M. Glackens was an American illustrator, cartoonist and early animator who lived from 1866 to 1933. He is best known for his cartoons for Puck magazine.

What was Puck magazine?

Puck was a New York magazine of political and social satire, famous for its colourful cartoons. Glackens worked for it from the 1890s until it was sold in 1914.

Was Louis Glackens related to William Glackens?

Yes. He was the older brother of William Glackens, the Ashcan School painter and illustrator.

Did Louis Glackens make animated films?

Yes. After Puck was sold he worked for Barré Studio and Bray Productions, making some of the earliest American animated cartoons between 1915 and 1920.

What makes Glackens's cartoons recognizable?

Look for crowded, colourful scenes, politicians drawn as animals or storybook characters, and a gentle, good-humoured satire.

Related Artists

• William James Glackens: his younger brother, the Ashcan School painter
• Udo Keppler: fellow Puck cartoonist, son of the magazine's founder
• Frederick Burr Opper: fellow Puck cartoonist