George Cruikshank - Social caricatures and illustrations, Political caricatures, Further reading

Caricaturist and illustrator, born in London, UK. He often contributed to topical magazines, and illustrated several children's books. His best-known work includes Grimm's German Popular Stories (1824–6) and Dickens's Oliver Twist (1837–9). In his later years he used his etchings and oil paintings in a vigorous protest against drunkenness, as in the series for ‘The Bottle’ (1847).

George Cruikshank (September 27, 1792—February 1, 1878), caricaturist and book illustrator. Born in London, England, he was a member of the Cruikshank family of caricaturists and artists, the son of Scottish painter and caricaturist Isaac Cruikshank.

Social caricatures and illustrations

Cruikshank's early career was renowned for his social caricatures of British life for popular publications such as The Comic Almanack (1835-1853) and Omnibus (1842) but later in his career, his book illustrations for Charles Dickens and many other authors reached an international audience.

He created folios of prints with moralistic themes inspired by the temperence movement.

For Charles Dickens, Cruikshank illustrated Sketches by Boz (1836) and Oliver Twist (1838).

Political caricatures

Cruikshank’s 60-year career began with political prints that attacked the royal family and leading politicians (in 1820 he received a royal bribe of £100 for a pledge "not to caricature His Majesty" (George III of the United Kingdom) "in any immoral situation").

Cruikshank replaced one of his major influences, James Gillray, as England's most popular satirist. His hostility to enemies of Britain and a crude racism is evident in his illustrations commissioned to accompany William Maxwell's History of the Irish rebellion in 1798 (1845) where his lurid depictions of incidents in the rebellion were characterised by the simian-like portrayal of Irish rebels.

An unflattering 1819 caricature of the Prince Regent illustrating "The Political House that Jack Built" by William Hone.

"A Splendid Spread", early satire on the crinoline from The Comic Almanack for 1850.

Further reading

Cruikshank, George.