The first newspaper cartoon in America was political in nature (above) and was
drawn and originally published by Benjamin Franklin in The Pennsylvania Gazette. It
appeared as part of an editorial by Franklin commenting on ‘the present disunited
state of the British Colonies. The woodcut drawing entitled ‘Join or Die’ pictures a
divided snake in eight pieces representing as many colonial governments.The
drawing was based on the popular superstition that a snake that had been cut in
two would come to life if the pieces were joined before sunset. The drawing was
soon reproduced in other newspapers.  

Benjamin Franklin

A page from The Pennsylvania Gazette

Leonardo  da Vinci ( (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was, among many
things, an Italian painter, sculptor, scientist, inventor, and engineer. He
is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and
perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived.

The Mona Lisa

The Last Supper

Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890) was a Dutch post-impressionist painter whose work had a great influence on 20th century art. He
suffered from frequent bouts of mental illness throughout his life and died,
largely unknown, at the age of 37 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His
fame grew in the years after his death. Today, he is widely regarded as one
of history’s greatest painters and an important contributor to modern art. His 
many pieces today, including his numerous self portraits and sunflowers
(as shown below), are among the world’s most recognizable and expensive
works of art.