MISS AND MISTLETOE 

John Leech created ‘Miss and Mistletoe,’ during a time when Victorian society was obsessed with social hierarchy, class distinctions, and of course, marriage. Leech was a caricaturist and his works often commented on the absurdities of Victorian life. In this image, we see a stark portrayal of an aging woman and a younger gentleman under the mistletoe, a symbol of love and holiday cheer. It immediately raises questions about the power dynamics at play, the desperation for social mobility through marriage, and the limited roles available to women of this era. Was marriage a social contract or an emotional one? Leech’s caricature might be critiquing the transactional nature of marriage during this period. It makes you wonder about the woman's lived experience and how societal pressures shaped her decisions and opportunities. The artist isn't just showing us a scene; he's inviting us to reflect on societal expectations and the personal sacrifices people make to fit in.