But is it art? The art elements -- line, shape and texture can help you analyze the artistic quality of the cartoon. (Check out the Line: a Geometric Exercise, Line & Shading or the Expressionism unit Description and Analysis for help with the art elements.) Questions to help you analyze the cartoon might be:

Would you call this cartoon art? If so why or why not?

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Are the lines pleasing to look at? In what ways?

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Does is feel balanced? Explain.

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What expressive qualities does it have?

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What ideas or emotions does it express?

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Did these work for or against the piece? The artist?

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"Join or Die" is simply drawn. It shows us that very good drawing skills are not needed to get a point across. Do you suppose Franklin might have wanted the drawing to look rough? Why?

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The "Join or Die" cartoon is printed rather crudely. The reason is the deplorable state of printing in America at the time. The equipment used in the colonies was inferior; the Americans had to settle for discarded British presses. This is really odd since by 1670, Mexican printers had been at work for over a hundred years.

Some people have suggested that there may not have been craftsmen in the colonies capable of producing good engraved art: but as soon as intaglio (specially engraved) paper money appeared in 1690, skilled counterfeiters printed their own money!

Regardless of the drawing and printing skills seen in "Join or Die," it has meaning. It is a symbol for the opinions of the artist and it is an example of the successful use of art to effect change in the America.