“Gambling With Death” stands as one of Bernhard Gillam’s most evocative political cartoons—an unflinching snapshot of life in the late 19th century. First published in Puck magazine and now preserved in the Library of Congress, the illustration shows a complacent capitalist literally playing cards with Death, surrounded by scenes of industrial disaster, fire, and maritime tragedy.

Gillam’s work was known for exposing corruption and the human cost of unchecked enterprise. Here, he captures the mindset of the Gilded Age: a world where fortunes were made atop perilous working conditions, where insurance softened consequences for the wealthy while ordinary citizens bore the real risks.

This modern reproduction honors the historical weight of the piece while preserving its intricate lithographic detail. Every line, shadow, and atmospheric swirl has been carefully restored from the original standard heavy-weight scan, giving collectors a clean, museum-quality print that bridges past and present.