The “Brains” (1871) 

Cartoons, whether editorial, political, or narrative, are not just entertainment. They are societal commentary, humors that reflect and shape cultural history. They are artifacts that record public sentiment, critique power, and visualize social change. Through the combination of typography, illustration, and composition, cartoons influence both design and public discourse. 

Published on October 21, 1871, in the United States, this engraved Newspaper illustration is one of many of Thomas Nast’s political cartoons as seen in Harper’s Weekly.  Nast's cartoons famously exposed the corruption taking place within New York’s Tammany Hall during the early 1870s. They were specifically used to take down William "Boss" Tweed, depicting him as a thief and a tyrant to the public. Nast's use of exaggerated caricature and symbolic imagery established visual tropes that are still used in political design in the modern day.  Thomas Nast's works are an early example of how illustration can drive public opinion.