In response to news reports that "Emperor William" was personally approving or rejecting the artwork which would be displayed in the German exhibition at the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis, E. A. Bushnell portrays the Emperor selecting only artwork that portrays him positively; the phrase "HOCH DER KAISER" (present on each painting) roughly translates to "LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR". In the background, a subordinate crushes rejected artworks underfoot.