General Jacko & his Rib 1815 - 1825

John Cawse created this print, "General Jacko & his Rib," using etching and stipple engraving. The scene presents a woman reclining on a yellow couch, embraced by a monkey dressed in military attire. The bright colours and caricatured forms immediately strike the eye. The composition is structured around contrasting textures: the smooth skin of the woman, the soft fabric of her dress, and the coarse fur of the monkey. These formal elements create a tension that destabilizes traditional representations of beauty and power. The monkey's uniform and posture mock military authority, while the woman's relaxed pose challenges conventional ideas of femininity. The use of animalistic imagery here links to broader philosophical debates about human nature and social hierarchy. Cawse's print reflects the period's fascination with physiognomy, where physical features were thought to reveal inner character. The juxtaposition of human and animal traits blurs established categories. Art like this encourages us to question the codes and conventions through which we perceive the world.