Code: CA1
Probable Effects of Over Female Emigration, or Importing the Fair Sex from the Savage Islands in Consequence of Exporting all our own to Australia!!!!"
Cruikshank was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the contemporary "modern Hogarth". He illustrated the work of his good friend
Charles Dickens among many other famous authors.In early life he was renown for his social caricatures of British life and then for his Political satires collaborating with William Hone.
He Produced The Comic Almanac between 1835-1853 and within it's pages attacked the Royal family and leading politicians. Indeed in ealier he received a royal bribe of BP 100 for a pledge
"not to caricature thHis majesty(George IV) in any immoral situation"
The topic of this caricature we would now condemn as racist in nature, but it reflects the fact that many women of Britain were attracted to the "colonies"
as that is where many a young man travelled for opportunities not available in Britain.
Before the War of Independence in 1775, the American Colony was a beacon for young British men to make their fortune in manufacturing and plantations and in a
world where women had few options financially, they left British shores to find husbands, and where better than in lands of opportunity!
In the 1840's South Australia had a bumper discovery of Copper Fever only to be replaced in the 1850's with Victorian Gold Fever. In fact,
the British immigation to that colony made it most populated and wealthiest in Australia. Interestingly, the date of this work coincides with London's great celebration of manufacturing and riches
of the British Empire, the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace.
Drawn and etched by George Cruikshank (1792-1878) for his Comic Almanac. Hand coloured
Antique Traditional Profile frame with original gold fillet.
Price inclusive of frame = AUD $585