The artwork “A Lesson in Discretion” by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, created in 1887, is an illustration belonging to the Kitsch art movement. It is a four-panel comic that humorously depicts a confrontation between a large man and a smaller man, ultimately illustrating a lesson in humility and prudence.
The first panel shows the large man confronting the smaller man, threatening to “lick” him and settle the matter. In the second panel, the large man reiterates his intention with added emphasis. However, in the third panel, the smaller man effortlessly floors the larger man. In the final panel, the larger man, having learned his lesson in discretion, is depicted with great difficulty gathering himself together. The details and humor of the artwork effectively convey the moral of exercising caution and humility.
