Monstrosities of 1822
George Cruikshank
Object Label
For his Monstrosities series, issued annually from 1816 to 1825 to lampoon the latest style of dress, George Cruikshank drew from the imagery of the contemporary fashion plates that Londoners eagerly consulted. Here, contorted bodies in short, high-waisted dresses and wasp-waisted jackets promenade through Hyde Park, making an absurd contrast with nearby classical statuary. Poking fun at print consumption as much as fashion, Cruikshank’s image satirized those who foolishly attempted to emulate printed images.
Caption
George Cruikshank (British, 1792–1878). Monstrosities of 1822, 1822. Etching and watercolor (hand colored) on wove paper, image: 10 1/16 × 14 1/4 in. (25.6 × 36.2 cm) sheet: 10 7/16 × 14 7/8 in. (26.5 × 37.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 27.231.
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Artist
Title
Monstrosities of 1822
Date
1822
Medium
Etching and watercolor (hand colored) on wove paper
Classification
Dimensions
image: 10 1/16 × 14 1/4 in. (25.6 × 36.2 cm) sheet: 10 7/16 × 14 7/8 in. (26.5 × 37.8 cm)
Signatures
Not signed
Credit Line
Museum Collection Fund
Accession Number
27.231
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