Laughing or Crying? The Question of Our Times

This cartoon features a Pagliacci-inspired clown, standing under a somber spotlight, looking skyward with an ambiguous expression that leaves viewers guessing whether he’s laughing or crying. Above him, the words “What Next?” loom large, echoing a collective sense of dread and disbelief. The cartoon encapsulates the overwhelming uncertainties of current affairs—climate change, the aftermath of COVID-19, political upheaval, the rising (once again) of fascism and the existential threat of AI replacing livelihoods. A poignant and darkly humorous reflection on the mood of an anxious, unsettled world.