Dismal Dandies, or General Mourning & Crape c. 1819

"Dismal Dandies, or General Mourning & Crape" is a satirical hand-colored etching by Charles Williams from 1819, held in the Art Institute of Chicago. The print mocks contemporary fashion trends, specifically the dramatic, oversized crape mourning wear worn by men. Two men stand in conversation, one wearing a long black crape scarf over his uniform and carrying a hat with a long, trailing plume. The other man stands with a crape sash and a large black plume on his hat. The etching is a good example of how art was used to comment on social trends in the 19th century.