The 1911 Pyramid of Capitalist System cartoon, created by an unknown artist for The Industrial Worker, a publication of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), uses a powerful visual metaphor to critique the inequalities inherent in capitalist society. In the cartoon, a pyramid is depicted with the wealthy elite at the top—capitalists, bankers, and industrialists—reaping the rewards of the labor of millions. Beneath them, a large and diverse mass of workers makes up the base, representing the exploited labor force. These workers are shown as crushed under the weight of the pyramid, symbolizing how their hard work sustains the system but offers little in return.
The cartoon starkly contrasts the immense wealth and power of the capitalists with the dire conditions of the working class. The image also includes figures like soldiers and police, who are shown as tools used by the ruling class to maintain order and suppress dissent. This underscores how the state often serves the interests of the wealthy, using force when necessary to preserve the status quo.
Through its vivid and simple symbolism, the Pyramid of Capitalist System exposes the systemic exploitation and oppression at the heart of capitalism, emphasizing the need for solidarity and revolutionary change to dismantle the power structures that sustain it.
