“Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s caricature artwork, titled ‘B. F. Butler Riding a “presidential Ram”‘, belongs to the ‘Every Man Rides His Own Hobby’ series and is a work from the Kitsch art movement. Notable for its genre of caricature, the artwork humorously depicts a prominent figure, B. F. Butler, riding a ram, symbolizing a presidential campaign or aspiration.”
The artwork showcases a bald man with a mustache, presented in profile with exaggerated features that typify caricature. He is seen riding a ram labeled as “PRESIDENTIAL RAM” in a whimsical manner. The man wears a suit with a five-dollar bill tucked into his hatband, labeled with his name, “B. F. BUTLER”. This visual pun highlights the subject’s political aspirations. The setting and attire are illustrative of the humoristic nature characteristic of Coolidge’s work in the Kitsch movement. At the bottom of the artwork, a promotional text reads: “OUR HOBBY IS FINE HAND SEWED SHOES, LOWERING’S ONE-PRICE SHOE HOUSE,” suggesting an intersection of political satire with commercial advertising.
