Koning George IV en zijn maîtresse Lady Conyngham c. 1827

Robert Seymour made this print, Koning George IV en zijn maîtresse Lady Conyngham, in England, sometime in the 1820s. The image, with its satirical title, lampoons the British monarchy and its relationship to the aristocracy. Note how the artist uses caricature to create meaning through visual codes. We see King George IV dressed in costume, arm in arm with his mistress, Lady Conyngham. They are followed by a figure holding a long scroll, perhaps representing the King's debts. The presence of a giraffe and servants on the left satirizes the King’s extravagant lifestyle. This speaks to the politics of imagery, in this case, to critique the institution of the monarchy. This print reflects a time of social and political change in Britain, with growing calls for reform and greater accountability from the ruling class. To gain a greater appreciation of the work, one might look at examples of political cartoons from this period and examine the popular press. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.