The American magazine Puck, whose symbol was the mischievous spirit that existed in the myths of various European nations and was depicted as a chubby child, was published for quite a short time — from 1871 to 1918, but it was this magazine that became the most famous satirical publication of the New World. Hundreds of professionally made cartoons on political themes now allow you to look at the events of the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the eyes of the Americans.
Today's compilation is devoted to the position of the Russian Empire on the international arena, as well as its internal problems, reflected on paper by American artists. At the end of the caption for each illustration, the date of the magazine's publication is given. All images are from the US Library of Congress website.
«Enchained!» The drawing depicts the scene where Emperor Alexander III and Kaiser Wilhelm II are enchaining the Roman god Mars to a rock with fetters inscribed “Russian-German trade agreement” with the help of hammers with the inscription «Ratification». In the background, a female figure entitled «Peace» rests in a hammock stretched between the standards of the two countries. The agreement was signed for a period of 10 years, which stopped a long-term war of customs duties between the two states (April 4, 1894)
«A new face in an old hen house». The drawing depicts old «heelers» Russia, Germany, France, Austria, Italy and England, standing around a Japanese chicken hatching from an egg inscribed with the words «Chinese-Japanese war» and trampling the Chinese flag. Everyone thinks who will have to fight the rookie first (April 17, 1895)
On the left: «Easy job for six big cops!» England, Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Russia and Italy, armed with truncheons, accompany a small child with the inscription «Greece». The mediation of the six leading European powers in peace negotiations between the Turks and the Greeks helped the latter survive the defeat in the war with little casualties (April 14, 1897). On the right: “Not quite ready”. Russian bear cuts roast beef with the inscription «Siberian Railroad». The cutlery on the table is labeled «Enlarged Navy», «New Spheres of Influence» and «Better Financial System». A bottle of champagne with the inscription «Port Arthur» is cooling on the left. Outside the window on the island, a British lion is resting or waiting for the perfect moment (September 21, 1898)
«Lady’s man from Europe». Russia in the form of a man stands in a circle of countries, each of them received his assurances of love and loyalty. Great Britain on the far left is the only one left without a love letter (October 27, 1897)
«Putting your foot down». Uncle Sam stands on the map in a threatening pose and holds in his hands the «Trade Treaty with China». Kaiser Wilhelm II (Germany), King Umberto I (Italy), figurative John Bull (England), Emperor Nicholas II (Russia) and President Emile Loubet (France) with big scissors are ready to cut the map as they wish, while Emperor Franz Joseph I (Austria-Hungary) sharpens scissors on a grinding stone (23 August 1899)
On the left: «A tempting opportunity». A British lion is trying to put out a fire with the inscription «South African War», while Russia and France, with tongs in their hands, are trying to figure out how to smartly grab its tail, and who should do it first. The interpretation of the actions of the British seems somewhat controversial (November 15, 1899). On the right: “Muscovites' Caution”. A Russian bear looks cautiously at a large beehive with the inscription “British Beehive. Herat Honey», standing behind the fortification wall with minarets. Great Britain and Russia together defined the border of Afghanistan, and Herat, located in its north, was a stumbling block (March 21, 1900)
«Not Dead Yet». Vultures called «France» and «Russia» hover over the British lion, waiting to see if he dies (January 17, 1900)
“Reckless Challenge”. France threatens to set a Russian bear on the English John Bull, while a battle rages in the background with the inscription «Transvaal» (June 6, 1900)
«Too Many Volunteers». China is breaking free from the clutches of the Russian bear, while Germany and England plead with Russia not to be so greedy and share with them. Uncle Sam is sitting on the fence, taking a wait-and-see attitude. This and a number of subsequent cartoons are devoted to the suppression of the Yihetuan uprising and the division of Chinese territories and reparations (December 5, 1900)
“Too Many Shylocks”. Russia, Japan, Germany and Great Britain in Jewish robes, with scales and bills of exchange are pressing on China, demanding to pay the bills. In the background, Uncle Sam puts on a judge's robe and is about to intervene (Shylock is a Shakespearean character, a Jewish usurer) (March 27, 1901)
«The Last Chinese Wall». A Russian bear with a saber stands in front of Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, the United States, Turkey and Spain, all holding rifles with bayonets, behind them sits a laughing China (April 24, 1901)
«A Dangerous Opportunity in the East». The victors of the rebellious Yihetuan are crowded around the table with a basket inscribed «Chinese Indemnity». Among others, Emperor Nicholas II, British King Edward VII, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Japanese Emperor Meiji, Italian King Victor-Emmanuel III, Emperor Franz Joseph I and French President Emile Loubet can be seen. A huge sword hanging above the table on a thin thread is entitled «The Awakening of China» (September 4, 1901)
On the left: «Peaceful mood on a full stomach». A German eagle and a Russian bear rest after a meal. Bones are titled «Shan-Tung» and «Manchuria» — territories that fell into the sphere of interests of the two monarchies (April 9, 1902). On the right: «Who came first is served first." Russia eats from a bowl labeled «Manchuria» in a Chinese restaurant. In the background, China apologizes to French President Emile Loubet and Kaiser Wilhelm II (May 13, 1903)
On the left: «Our skeletons in the closet». Uncle Sam is holding a piece of paper with the words «Protest against Russian Outrage», behind him is a cabinet with a skeleton entitled «Lynching." This refers to double standards regarding the anti-Semitic outrages in Russia (July 29, 1903). On the right: “He is now playing with Bulgaria. The performance that began under Peter." The Russian puppeteer plays with puppets with the words «Bulgaria» and «Macedonia», which fight with swords. On the side of the box there are dolls with the words «Rumelia», «Serbia» and «Romania» (October 7, 1903)
«Empty plate». British lion, Russian bear, Austro-Hungarian cat and dogs France, Italy and Germany gathered around the table for dinner. The lion is holding a knife with the inscription «Dismemberment of Turkey», but the plate is empty. The Turkish turkey has escaped and laughs outside (November 25, 1903)
On the left: “House of Cards”. The Russian bear is about to break the fragile structure on which the dove of peace sits. Cards with monarchs and presidents depict England, France, Germany, Japan, USA, Austria, China, Italy and Turkey. The bear's claws touch the card with the inscription «Japan» (January 20, 1904). On the right: “East Kilkenny”. Two cats, Japan and Russia, are tied to a rope with the inscription «Manchuria» with a cloth entitled «Neutrality». Kilkenny cats are British folklore characters who lived in the British and Irish parts of the city, known for their deadly feud (March 16, 1904)
«Yellow Danger». Russia swings a seven-tailed whip, signed «Absolutism, persecution, tyranny." On the ground lie the victims of the 1903 anti-Semitic outrage in Chisinau, in the background chained convicts drag themselves to Siberia, and dark clouds hover over Finland and Poland. Russia protects the eyes from the shining of «Modern Japan”, which is surrounded by the rays of justice, progressiveness, humaneness, enlightenment, tolerance and religious liberty. Medieval Japan lies defeated on the ground (March 23, 1904)
On the left: “Out of Control”. A drunken Russia with a bottle of vodka and a sword covered in blood hunts for a wasp depicting Japan. John Bull and Uncle Sam are watching from afar (November 16, 1904). On the right: “A Voice from the Past”. The ghost of the French king Louis XVI warns Nicholas II not to make hasty decisions about the writer Maxim Gorky, who was arrested after the «Bloody Sunday» and to listen to petitions for his release (February 8, 1905)
«The End is Nigh». Nicholas II, clutching a doll in a crown with the inscription «Autocracy» to his chest, rushes through the forest in a three-horse carriage, pursued by a pack of wolves and Death (April 5, 1905)
«Struggle of the Slavs». A Russian, standing in a boat, swings with an axe at an octopus with the inscription «Bureaucracy» in the royal crown and mantle. Its tentacles are signed «Greed», «Oppressive taxation», «Despotism», «Religious intolerance», «Cossackism», «Incompetence» etc. (June 21, 1905)
«The worst monarch». Nicholas II sits on the throne, he dropped the scepter and the orb. He is surrounded by the ghosts of the nationalities defeated by the Russians in the old days, laughing at the tsar — Poles, Hungarians, Turks, French, Prussians and others. On the right lies a shield with the Moscow coat of arms, split by a Japanese sword (August 9, 1905)
«Home Sweet Home!» The defeated but happy Russian army returns home after the end of the Japanese war. The Japanese sun rises on the horizon (September 20, 1905)
«Russian cataclysm». Priests, nobles, merchants, policemen and Cossacks cling to a rock in the stormy sea. In a flash of lightning in the background, the word «Revolt» is visible (November 29, 1905)
