Classic Cartoons: Martin Plimmer on George Cruikshank
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.EVERY PHOTOGRAPH of caricaturist George Cruikshank catches him on a bad-hair day. He managed to be bald and hairy simultaneously and looked like something he had drawn. Cruikshank didn't care for beautiful things, or at any rate couldn't see them. He drew with the rude, exaggerated gusto of the 18th century, a style now mirrored in the work of Scarfe and Steadman.
Cruikshank was more affectionate though, and his humour was rooted in common experiences, like toothaches and nightmares. Who can say they've never had this vicious fellow with the spiky fork and Turkish Teletubby hat riding a pig across their chest at night?
Cruikshank didn't care for inventions. He ridiculed rail and balloon travel. Richard Branson would have been his for breakfast. In the end,Victorian society rejected his grotesqueries but he continued to depict it mincing and affected in preposterous clothing - quite a cheek for someone with joke hair.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments