Origin of broke people wearing barrels

[Concoctious]

The standard editorial cartoon symbol of flat-brokedness: naked person with a barrel for clothes, shoulder straps to hold it up and bare feet protruding from the bottom. From whence did this come? I’m going to guess someone from the Thomas Nast era (late 19th century). With the promised recession, we will be seeing a lot of this one soon.

[astro]

@Concoctious

The standard editorial cartoon symbol of flat-brokedness: naked person with a barrel for clothes, shoulder straps to hold it up and bare feet protruding from the bottom. From whence did this come? I’m going to guess someone from the Thomas Nast era (late 19th century). With the promised recession, we will be seeing a lot of this one soon.

Nothing conclusive

Origin possibility

Here
and discussed Here

[Arnold_Winkelried]

Also discussed in an old GQ thread
Origins of comic portrayal: suddenly poor = wearing a barrel