Ridicule Collection

Get your Hair Cut
GET YOUR HAIR CUT A barber in his shop doorway and a group of people, including two jeering, pointing boys, ridicule a young mans long hair !

The Girl who ordered a glass of milk at the Cafe Royal
Illustration by H. M. Bateman showing a blushing young woman regretting her decision to order a glass of milk in Londons fashionable Cafe Royal because of the laughter

The Russian Agents in Bulgaria, Partisans of Russia hooted through the Streets of Sofia as Traitors (engraving)
1624742 The Russian Agents in Bulgaria, Partisans of Russia hooted through the Streets of Sofia as Traitors (engraving) by Schonberg

Behold the Reward of those Who Meddle in Other Peoples Affairs, c1900-1950
Behold the Reward of those Who Meddle in Other Peoples Affairs. c1900-1950

Cartoons, The Great Chartist Demonstration -- No. IX, The Beginning and the End. 1848

Shame Flute - German punishment for being a poor musician
A Shame Flute ( Schand Flote ) - German punishment for being a poor musician - you had to face the public wearing (around the neck) a heavy iron flute

Beauty is only skin deep (colour litho)
8656187 Beauty is only skin deep (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Beauty is only skin deep - then for heaven's sake skin her)

The death of Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) at the time of victory
MMM5481869 The death of Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) at the time of victory by Gillray, James (1757-1815); National Maritime Museum, London

Dunce's cap, c.1880 (print)
7293408 Dunce's cap, c.1880 (print); (add.info.: Education. Student wearing a dunce's cap at school. Imagery, France, ca 1880.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

Page from The Bible Emblem Anniversary Book (colour litho)
8630704 Page from The Bible Emblem Anniversary Book (colour litho) by Foster, William (1852-1924); Private Collection; (add.info)

Portraits de Brunswick, 1792 (engraving)
8677260 Portraits de Brunswick, 1792 (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Portraits de Brunswick, 1792)

The Dissolution (engraving)
8677250 The Dissolution (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Dissolution)

The last Shift (engraving)
8677187 The last Shift (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The last Shift)

Caricature of fashions of the late 18th century: women in tall wigs with garden of flowers in her bosom
FLO4717979 Caricature of fashions of the late 18th century: women in tall wigs with garden of flowers in her bosom, and macaroni in a tall wig with extravagant mass of hair tied at the back

The old young man. Old dandy in jacket with high collar, bicorn, tight breeches and hose
FLO4677534 The old young man. Old dandy in jacket with high collar, bicorn, tight breeches and hose, has a tie ties by a young shopgirl

Cartoon of English costumes, circa 1814. Men and women in ill-fitting, badly shaped dresses, hats and coats
FLO4677511 Cartoon of English costumes, circa 1814. Men and women in ill-fitting, badly shaped dresses, hats and coats. Handcoloured engraving from Pierre de la Mesanger's Le Bon Genre, Paris

Woman with spiral sleeves, profuse ruffs and flounces, kerchief key-holder
FLO4677354 Woman with spiral sleeves, profuse ruffs and flounces, kerchief key-holder. When one talks of flounces, refer back to the reign of Louis XV, and look at the portrait of your grandmother

Young man in chenille yarn jacket, tie, gloves, trousers, top hat and stick
FLO4677328 Young man in chenille yarn jacket, tie, gloves, trousers, top hat and stick. When fashions appear strange or embarrassing, I recall the hammer wigs, wide-sleeve coats

Caricature of macaroni fashions of the late 18th century, man in high wig looking at a reflection in a mirror
FLO4717964 Caricature of macaroni fashions of the late 18th century, man in high wig looking at a reflection in a mirror, while a fawning barber trims a wig

Longchamp Cavalcade. Two incredible (fops) mounted on heavy dray horses instead of thoroughbreds at Longchamp
FLO4677969 Longchamp Cavalcade. Two incredible (fops) mounted on heavy dray horses instead of thoroughbreds at Longchamp racetrack

Old woman trying on a pink bonnet in front of three young shopgirls, " Women appear to have sworn to lie about
FLO4677543 Old woman trying on a pink bonnet in front of three young shopgirls, " Women appear to have sworn to lie about youth up to their last breath." Handcoloured engraving from Pierre

Woman wearing headdress and dress featuring extravagent pleating and flouncing
FLO4677344 Woman wearing headdress and dress featuring extravagent pleating and flouncing. Pleated collars, flounces (falbalas) and ruffs (chicories), have never been more in fashion than today

Italian street pantomime artist in grotesque wig, playing a bizarre one-string violin with balloon
FLO4677342 Italian street pantomime artist in grotesque wig, playing a bizarre one-string violin with balloon. " This young Italian man with black eyes excels at terrible grimaces

Cartoon of English fashions in Paris, 1814. Man in flowerpot hat, women in bottom-shaped gowns
FLO4677482 Cartoon of English fashions in Paris, 1814. Man in flowerpot hat, women in bottom-shaped gowns. Handcoloured engraving from Pierre de la Mesanger's Le Bon Genre, Paris

Abbess. Death, grotestically crowned with flags or feathers, seized the poor abbess with her scapular
FLO4675539 Abbess. Death, grotestically crowned with flags or feathers, seized the poor abbess with her scapular. A nun at the door of the convent, with her hands raised

Past & Present: The Bicycle (colour litho)
8668679 Past & Present: The Bicycle (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Bicycle. Hobby Horse)

Love's Bitter Potion or Dolly Pregnant, symbolism of lost virginity, after a work by Boitard
1000931 Love's Bitter Potion or Dolly Pregnant, symbolism of lost virginity, after a work by Boitard. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs

The political dancing bear (engraving)
8677197 The political dancing bear (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The political dancing bear)

Wonders have not ceased (engraving)
8677190 Wonders have not ceased (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wonders have not ceased)

Agesilaus in Egypt (litho)
8660739 Agesilaus in Egypt (litho) by Dudley, Robert Ambrose (1867-1951); Private Collection; (add.info.: Agesilaus in Egypt)

The Political Machine that goes without Horses, 1769 (engraving)
8677244 The Political Machine that goes without Horses, 1769 (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Political Machine that goes without Horses)

Musical entertainment provided in the form of a singing troubadour and children playing a paino (colour litho)
7150669 Musical entertainment provided in the form of a singing troubadour and children playing a paino (colour litho) by Reynolds

Men swarming around a beautiful woman like bees around a honey pot (litho)
6001633 Men swarming around a beautiful woman like bees around a honey pot (litho) by Stahr, Paul C. (1883-1953); Private Collection; (add.info)

Flower-mania. Woman with as many flowers on her dress and hair as there are in the basket and vase near her
FLO4677514 Flower-mania. Woman with as many flowers on her dress and hair as there are in the basket and vase near her. "The ridiculous abundance of every kind of flowers on the dress

Man in long carrick coat with five pelerines or capes. "Our young men shorten their jackets but lengthen their
FLO4677433 Man in long carrick coat with five pelerines or capes. "Our young men shorten their jackets but lengthen their coats

One must suffer for beauty. A hairdresser on stilts pulls a woman's hair to the ceiling in the Chinese style
FLO4677414 One must suffer for beauty. A hairdresser on stilts pulls a woman's hair to the ceiling in the Chinese style. " The hairstyle a la Chinese is definitely a major makeover

Man with round bowler hat, green jacket, waistcoat, tie, breeches, whip and pink-striped stockings
FLO4677350 Man with round bowler hat, green jacket, waistcoat, tie, breeches, whip and pink-striped stockings. When fashions appear strange or embarrassing, I recall the hammer wigs

Scotch Politics: To be read backward, like a Witch's Prayer. Three figures sobbing Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
FLO4718265 Scotch Politics: To be read backward, like a Witch's Prayer. Three figures sobbing Edmund Burke (1729-1797), sleeping Scotch MacDonald and robber North

The Old Man and the Three Young Men, 1850
3478185 The Old Man and the Three Young Men, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration titled 'The Old Man and the Three Young Men'. The young men are mocking the old man for planting a tree at his age)

The Birthright of Englishmen ascertained, 1216. Surrendered March 22 1770 (engraving)
8677185 The Birthright of Englishmen ascertained, 1216. Surrendered March 22 1770 (engraving) by English School, (18th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Posh boy refusing to carry a yacht (colour litho)
8635564 Posh boy refusing to carry a yacht (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Posh boy refusing to carry a yacht)

Musical entertainment provided in the form of ballad songs and jazz (colour litho)
7150668 Musical entertainment provided in the form of ballad songs and jazz (colour litho) by Reynolds, Frank (1876-1953); Private Collection; (add.info)

Love's Bitter Potion or Dolly Pregnant, symbolism of lost virginity, after a work by Boitard
1000932 Love's Bitter Potion or Dolly Pregnant, symbolism of lost virginity, after a work by Boitard. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs

John Bull (icon of the British nation) exchanging news with the continent
MMM5481948 John Bull (icon of the British nation) exchanging news with the continent by Woodward, George Moutard (c.1760-1809); National Maritime Museum, London

The hop merchant from Kent (England) and the speaker at Optics
MMM5477349 The hop merchant from Kent (England) and the speaker at Optics; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: The hop merchant from Kent (England) and the speaker of optics

A fight (milling match, a type of boxing where the fighters sit, fighting only with their fists) between bridges
MMM5482865 A fight (milling match, a type of boxing where the fighters sit, fighting only with their fists) between bridges by Tegg, Thomas (1776-1845) ; National Maritime Museum, London

The rivals, a cartoon featuring Royal Navy sailors offering to help a young girl who has just tipped over her basket
MMM5481856 The rivals, a cartoon featuring Royal Navy sailors offering to help a young girl who has just tipped over her basket; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: The rivals)

Equity or the sailor's prayer before the battle
MMM5481797 Equity or the sailor's prayer before the battle by Tegg, Thomas (1776-1845) ; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Fairness or the sailor's prayer before the battle)

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"Ridicule: Unmasking the Absurdities of Life Through Art and Satire" Step into the world of ridicule, where humor meets criticism and nothing is off-limits. From "Get your Hair Cut" to "The Girl who ordered a glass of milk at the Cafe Royal, " these snapshots capture moments that invite laughter and reflection. In cartoons like "The Great Chartist Demonstration, " artists skillfully expose societal issues with wit and irony. They hold up a mirror to our flaws, reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously. Meanwhile, "Behold the Reward of those Who Meddle in Other Peoples Affairs" warns against interfering in matters that don't concern us – an age-old lesson still relevant today. Discover peculiar forms of punishment like the infamous Shame Flute, used in Germany for poor musicians. The Legend of the Moor's Last Sigh takes us on a journey through history, blending satire with storytelling. These tales remind us that even legends can be subject to mockery. During WW1, Kaiser Carnival and his cortege became subjects of caricature as artists poked fun at authority figures. In times when more pigs than teats were available (as depicted in another cartoon), society found solace in humor amidst scarcity. Travel back to 1817 with Fashionables hand-colored etching; it reveals how even fashion trends become targets for jesters throughout history. Comic postcards mock temperance speakers while highlighting their impact on audiences' behavior. "The Trust Giants Point of View: What A Funny Little Government" offers a satirical perspective on governance structures, challenging power dynamics through clever commentary. Finally, Robert van Audenaerde's depiction of Mocking Christ reminds us that no one is immune from ridicule – not even religious icons. Through artful mockery and biting satire, these glimpses into historical moments teach us valuable lessons about humility and self-awareness.