An Irish Union! Possibly 1799

drawing, print, etching, paper

drawing

aged paper

print

etching

traditional media

caricature

retro 'vintage design

paper

personal sketchbook

england

character design for animation

watercolour illustration

storyboard and sketchbook work

cartoon carciture

watercolor

"An Irish Union!" is a satirical hand-colored etching by Isaac Cruikshank, created in 1799. The artwork depicts a political cartoon, a popular genre of the time, commenting on the Act of Union 1800 that unified the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland. The caricature features four men, each representing a political figure involved in the Act of Union. The scene is meant to be humorous but carries a political message that is still relevant today. The artwork is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.