This image is an interesting example of an early Chinese political cartoon in the modern style. It was produced around 1909, just before the collapse of the Qing dynasty. The image shows the two faces of the dynasty. At the top is the smiling face the dynasty presents to foreigners. At bottom is the scowling face it presents to its own people.

In addition to making a good point about the nature of the Qing dynasty on the eve of its collapse, this cartoon also reflects an important social change: mass media had begun to shape public opinion throughout China by the turn of the twentieth century.

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