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French Liberty--British Slavery

French Liberty--British Slavery

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James Gillray

Contrasting the starving French with the well-fed British was already an old tradition. In this print, the optimism of the French revolutionary (recognizable by his cap of liberty decorated by a ribbon cockade) despite his dinner of raw onions is also shown in contrast with the obese Briton grumbling about taxes while he tucks into a hearty meal in comfortable surroundings.
Artist
James Gillray
(Scottish, 1757 - 1815)
Title
French Liberty--British Slavery
Date
1792
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
9 3/4 x 12 7/8 in. Overall
Credit
Gift of James Watrous
Accession No.
67.11.1
Classification
Prints
Geography
Scotland

Related

December 1967, gifted by James S. Watrous (Madison, WI) to the Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Wright, Thomas and R.H. Evans. "Historical & Descriptive Account of the Caricatures of James Gillray; Comprising a Political and Humorous History of the Latter Part of the Reign of George the Third." New York/London: Benjamin Blom, 1968. pp. 49-50, cat. no. 94

  • British Satire from Hogarth to Cruikshank: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 9/15/2001–11/4/2001
  • Line, Tone, and Color: Old Master Printmaking Techniques: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 11/23/1985–1/26/1986

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