The Right of Way — Beaumont Fairbank, 1910

The Right of Way is Beaumont Fairbank’s powerful 1910 political cartoon for Puck magazine. A monumental black locomotive marked “Private Monopoly Special” barrels forward on tracks labeled “Opportunity,” filling the center of the composition with smoke, steam and mechanical weight. To either side, the smaller “Plain People Local” and “Legitimate Business” trains have been diverted onto sidings.

Fairbank transforms the railway junction into a pointed metaphor for economic privilege. The central locomotive receives an unobstructed path while ordinary people and legitimate businesses are pushed aside, reinforced by the caption “As in railroading, everything is side-tracked for the special.” Published as a Puck centerfold on May 25, 1910, the illustration combines political satire with an exceptionally dynamic depiction of the steam locomotive.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Beaumont Fairbank
• Title: The Right of Way
• Original title: The right of way
• Series: Puck, vol. 67, no. 1734
• Date: May 25, 1910
• Period: Early 20th Century
• Place of Origin: New York, United States
• Medium: Color offset photomechanical print

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
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• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
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