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The scarlet woman - whom shall she pay?
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The scarlet woman - whom shall she pay?
The scarlet woman - whom shall she pay?. Illustration shows a woman wearing a red dress, holding money, standing between the Health Department Bureau of Licences and Inspection and an opening in a wall labeled Graft. In a cut-away showing the scene behind the Graft, the man (probably a plainclothes officer) who collects the money through the opening in the wall is passing money to a uniformed officer, who in turn passes the money to a large hand (probably that of a politician) entering the frame from above; it is a wild scene with a woman lying on a table, the body of a man stabbed to death beneath the table, a man rolling dice, others drinking, and a shooting taking place in the background. While the woman in red hesitates, the implication is that she has no choice, but to pay the graft. Date 1913 January 15. The scarlet woman - whom shall she pay?. Illustration shows a woman wearing a red dress, holding money, standing between the Health Department Bureau of Licences and Inspection and an opening in a wall labeled Graft. In a cut-away showing the scene behind the Graft, the man (probably a plainclothes officer) who collects the money through the opening in the wall is passing money to a uniformed officer, who in turn passes the money to a large hand (probably that of a politician) entering the frame from above; it is a wild scene with a woman lying on a table, the body of a man stabbed to death beneath the table, a man rolling dice, others drinking, and a shooting taking place in the background. While the woman in red hesitates, the implication is that she has no choice, but to pay the graft. Date 1913 January 15
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The Scarlet Woman - Whom Shall She Pay?
EDITORS COMMENTS
, a powerful and provocative illustration from 1913, captures the corrupt and chaotic world of graft and bribery in full swing. The central figure is a woman in a scarlet dress, her face etched with concern and determination as she stands before the Health Department Bureau of Licenses and Inspection and an opening in the wall labeled "Graft." In her hand, she clutches a wad of cash, her only means of entry into the legitimate world of health regulations. But the scene behind the Graft reveals a much darker reality. A plainclothes officer, likely a corrupt enforcer, collects the woman's money through the opening, passing it along to a uniformed officer. The money then makes its way up to a large hand, presumably that of a politician, entering the frame from above. The scene inside the Graft is wild and lawless, with a woman lying on a table, a man stabbed to death beneath it, another rolling dice, others drinking, and a shooting taking place in the background. The woman in red hesitates, her expression one of resignation and despair. The implication is clear: she has no choice but to pay the graft if she wants to operate her business legitimately. This powerful illustration serves as a stark reminder of the corrupt and violent underworld that existed in some corners of society during this time, and the desperate lengths people were forced to go to navigate it. This illustration, titled "The Scarlet Woman - Whom Shall She Pay?", was published on January 15, 1913, and is a testament to the social and political issues of the early 20th century. It is an important historical document that sheds light on the complex and often corrupt systems that governed various industries and institutions during this period.
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