The illustration depicts a conversation between two men, supposedly merchants. One of them, named Petruza, is angry because journalists have written details of his deceitful and dishonest business affairs.

According to the story, Peturza told some of his secrets to his friend, including that sometimes he used to give double prices to the products, or lie about the weight of the products. This friend was a journalist and wrote everything  in the newspaper “Matraxi”*

“Petruza” used to be a pseudonym of Petre Akhalkaci. In the database of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia, there is a book by Akhalkaci - “Episodes from the life of merchants of Tbilisi”.  Maybe a connection can be found between the author of this book and the character “Petruza”. It could be said that in this caricature and the text we have an allusion to an actual person and his work.  

 

*For some time the newspaper “Eshmakis Matraxi” was published with a name - “Matraxi”.

Source: The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia