A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 5

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934


I think this is about whether to engage in World War I or not.  Uncle Sam here is right--he has plenty of his own work to do.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 4

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

The only thing I don't like about this is the word "conceit" on the figure's shirt on the far right.  I think that comes from an ignorant understanding of self-esteem.  Otherwise though, I love this image.

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 3

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 2

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1869-1934

A Week of Winsor McCay's Editorial Cartoons for Objectivists, Day 1

Nationality: American
Born-Died: 1869-1934


I found these in two books called "Winsor McCay: Early Works III" and "IX" and they are really great.  I think other Objectivists will enjoy them.  Looking through his work I am very impressed by how  he supported the free market, industry, science, freedom and how anti-religion and superstition he was.  His work is not above criticism however.  He very often cast wealth, money and greed in a negative light while glorifying immoralities such as public education.  In any case, his drawings are fantastic and many of the ideas are too.  I hope you enjoy them as I do!


This first one is AMAZING.

Jewel Kilcher's "The Walmart Song"

Nationality: American

Born-Died: 1974-

Creation Date: 2012

Size: 00:03:05

Media: Music

Is this a good song?  Well, it's cute, but it's not for me.  However, I'm posting it today because I find it absolutely incredible that 1.) Jewel sang a song about Walmart and 2.) a celebrity dared to depict Walmart in a positive light.  What a bizarre occurrence!  I'm sure this is going to open up a huge can of worms for whatever remains of Jewel's career, but I applaud her performance because I don't have any problem with Walmart.  And I'm not ignorant of many of the criticisms.  I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if the celebrities that criticize capitalism and corporations like Walmart have their products sold there.  However, I wouldn't be surprised if Jewel herself had anti-capitalist leanings in that I saw the nigh-socialist Green Party of America once used a quote by her on their home page. 

Sadly, I can already see that an unusually large number of people "disliked" this peppy little song.  

The Glory of American Money - Edwin H. Blashfield's "Science Presenting Steam And Electricity To Commerce And Manufacture"

On this Day in the History of Art: Miguel de Cervantes died (1616), J. M. W. Turner born (1775), William Wordsworth died (1850), Frans Koppelaar born (1943)
"It is not the moochers or the looters who give value to money. Not an ocean of tears nor all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper, which should have been gold, are a token of honor – your claim upon the energy of the men who produce. Your wallet is your statement of hope that somewhere in the world around you there are men who will not default on that moral principle which is the root of money."

- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Nationality: American
Born/Died: 1848-1936
Creation Date: 1896
Media: intaglio print

The Glory of American Money - Walter Shirlaw's "Electricity Presenting Light To The World"

On this Day in the History of Art: Immanuel Kant born (1724), Ansel Adams died (1984)

"Take a look at an electric generator and dare tell yourself that it was created by the muscular effort of unthinking brutes."

- Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Nationality: American
Born/Died: 1838-1909
Creation Date: 1896
Media: intaglio print

This represents many glorious things.

Felix de Weldon's "Marine Corps War Memorial"

On this Day in Art History: Felix de Weldon born (1907),

Nationality: American
Born/Died: 1907-2003

Creation Date: Finished 1954
Size: 32 ft. figures, 60 ft. flagpole (9.75 m, 18.28 m)
Media: Bronze
Location: Arlington, Virginia, USA

Today's post is in honor of the birthday of Felix de Weldon whose work is, unfortunately, practically unknown in the arts community today.

Although large, bronze sculptures of this kind are extremely expensive to create, it is interesting (and inspiring) to know that no public funds were used to create this work and instead it was created by voluntary donations. This should be remembered the next time someone claims that public funding for the arts is necessary for the creation of large and expensive works.

Art and Money Week: Marinus Claeszvan Reymerswaele's "Two Tax Collectors"

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There is a wonderful history of works of art that depict tax collectors in a negative light. In fact, I have never heard of a work that depicted them in in a positive way! It's nice to know that changing people's psychological view of the tax man would certainly be an uphill battle.

This painting depicts hideous men dressed in absurd, flashy clothing as they go down their lists. It's also a great example of the artist expressing how he believed man should not be in regards to money.

Art and Money Week: Salomon Koninck's "The Gold Weigher"

While a $1.50 cup of coffee can provide much needed physical fuel, this blog has been providing psychological and philosophical fuel since September of 2010. If you like this blog, please consider making a contribution of $1 or more to keep me fueled!

Special thanks to Yuriy and Dan for their donations!

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It's no coincidence that the golden age of dutch art occurred at the time when Amsterdam's economy boomed. Artists from that time and place depicted money in their work a great deal. While many European representations of money are used to demonstrate that worldly possessions are evil, many of these Dutch artists portrayed money in a much more mature and positive light. For instance, in this picture, the delicate way this man is holding the scale with his little finger extended demonstrate his gentility and refinement, not baseness or underhandedness. His fashion is dignified, not ostentatious.

Albrecht Dürer's "Jakob the Rich"

Here is an image of a business man called "Jakob the Rich" or "Jakob the Wealthy" who was one of the richest men in history. I post this painting today in celebration of the revenue I've earned thus far from maintaining this blog (Google Adsense): one penny!

George Tooker's "Government Bureau"

This is a painting I've always thought other Objectivists would also appreciate.