Cockney and His Wife Going to Wycombe Possibly 1805

James Gillray's satirical print "Cockney and His Wife Going to Wycombe" (circa 1805) depicts a wealthy couple in a carriage, mocking Londoners who traveled to the country. Gillray was a prolific English caricaturist known for his biting social commentary. The artwork uses humor and exaggeration to highlight social and political issues of the time. The couple's awkward carriage ride and the exhausted horse symbolize the struggles of the upper class, while the "Cockney" label signifies the ridicule of the city-dwelling elite. The inscription, referencing the couple's complaints about weather and their desire to avoid a walk, further emphasizes the satire.