Jay Gould Political Cartoon

Year

2025

Dimensions

11.5 in x 7 in

Materials

Micron Pen on Drawing Paper

Jay Gould Political Cartoon began as a U.S. History assignment, but I wanted it to become a complete finished piece rather than a quick class response. I turned Gould into a fox because foxes are associated with being sneaky, cunning, and mischievous. The money bags and labeled safe connect that character design to the manipulation and deception behind his wealth. The hardest part was separating the textures. I needed the gloves and boots to look smooth and leather-like without blending into the fox's fur, so I changed the direction and density of my linework and shading. The piece let me use historical research as the starting point for a character and then communicate the argument through costume, objects, expression, and material.