Smirk Collection

Barred from Womens Lecture for wearing bloomers
A woman wearing bloomers is stopped by a Vicar from entering a Lecture (for Women Only !) as she is wearing bloomers, which Rev Self Righteous views as totally unsuitable for a lady! Date: 1911

Deck chairs Tenby, Wales
Two elderly men sat in deckchairs either side of an elderly lady. They watch her and smile as she snoozes in the afternoon sunshine on the beach at Tenby, Wales

13131441
DOG. Cross breed, head & shoulders, facial expression, white background Date: 18-03-2019

Illustration from La Revue Blanche, March 1894 (colour litho)
CHT182710 Illustration from La Revue Blanche, March 1894 (colour litho) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); Private Collection; (add.info)

Quilp, from The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens, 1923 (colour litho)
KDC465760 Quilp, from The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens, 1923 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info)

Quilp, illustration from Character Sketches from Charles Dickens, c. 1890 (colour litho)
LLM405134 Quilp, illustration from Character Sketches from Charles Dickens, c.1890 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info)

Portrait of a gentleman in a blue coat (oil on canvas)
BWM153216 Portrait of a gentleman in a blue coat (oil on canvas) by Nattier, Jean-Marc (1685-1766); The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK; eBowes Museum; French, out of copyright

DANDY / MACARONI 1773
MACARONI A rather shallow-looking and irritating young man, known as a Macaroni smirking and supressing a giggle. Date: circa 1773

An Unpleasant Neighbour, 1859. Mr Bull, Here have I got to pay double insurance, all along of your confounded fireworks!. John Bull presenting a bill to Napoleon III for the 9d in the pound income

The Novice Who Ticked Off The Bridge Expert by H M Bateman
The Novice Who Ticked Off The local Bridge Expert by H M Bateman. This illustration shows a man who is so unused to being contradicted that his monocle has fallen from his eye

Christmas postcard from Holy Land
A Christmas postcard from a soldier in the Holy Land at the end of the First World War. Printed with a poem by Saddler Smirk of 15 Heavy Battery, RGA (Royal Garrison Artillery)

HIBISCUS GIRL 1950S 1 / 4
Brunette model with a red hibiscus flower in her hair, a white shell necklace and a low cut red striped, strapless bathing costume, sips soft drink from a pop bottle

Grown Ladies Taught
Grown Ladies..taught to Dance: 2 girls smirk as a toothless yet fashionable old lady goes through her paces with the dancing master - (mirrored in a picture of a cat & monkey)

Toilet / Hair / Macaroni
A rather shallow-looking and irritating young man, known as a " Macaroni" smirking and supressing a giggle and wearing rather a large wig

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"Smirk: A Timeless Expression of Mischief and Style" In the late 19th century, a woman barred from attending a women's lecture for daring to wear bloomers would have surely smirked at society's narrow-mindedness. Meanwhile, in Tenby, Wales, deck chairs lined the coast as gentlemen with powdered hair and striped waistcoats strolled by, their smirks hinting at their mischievous nature. The art world also embraced the power of a smirk. An illustration from La Revue Blanche in March 1894 captured this expression perfectly through vibrant colors and lithography techniques. Similarly, Quilp from Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop came alive on paper with his sly grin depicted in color lithographs that added depth to his character. Even portraits couldn't resist capturing the allure of a well-executed smirk. A gentleman donning a blue coat stared confidently into the canvas, his subtle smile revealing an air of mystery and charm. But smirking wasn't limited to high society or fictional characters; it transcended time and social classes. In 1773, dandies known as macaronis strutted around town with their heads held high while wearing flamboyant outfits that undoubtedly caused many passersby to smirk in amusement. Sometimes smirks were born out of annoyance rather than mischief. An unpleasant neighbor could easily elicit an involuntary curling of lips as frustrations mounted over shared walls or noisy evenings. Yet amidst all these moments where smirks played their part, one cannot forget the joyous encounters they brought about. H. M Bateman's comical illustration titled "The Novice Who Ticked Off The Bridge Expert" showcased how even during intense card games, laughter prevailed when someone made an amusing mistake worth sharing a knowing smile over. So let us embrace the timeless expression that is the smirk.