Art Young

Born in Illinois in 1866 and raised in Wisconsin, Art Young became an American cartoonist, writer, and painter whose work mixed wit with strong social criticism. He studied art in Chicago, New York, and Paris, then built a career drawing for newspapers and popular magazines before becoming widely associated with political cartooning.

Young is especially remembered for his work in The Masses, the influential left-wing magazine where his cartoons attacked poverty, exploitation, and militarism. His pictures were often funny, but they were also deeply moral, shaped by sympathy for ordinary people and anger at injustice.

Over time, he became an important figure in American radical culture, publishing books, illustrations, and cartoons that kept his voice lively and direct. Even now, he stands out as an artist who used satire not just to entertain, but to challenge power.