Cestina Warehouse or Belly Piece Shop 1793

This satirical hand-colored etching by Isaac Cruikshank, titled "Cestina Warehouse or Belly Piece Shop," from 1793, depicts a humorous scene of women shopping for "belly pieces," a type of padding worn to give the appearance of pregnancy. This satirical artwork, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a commentary on social trends and fashion during a time of rapid change in English society. It's a lighthearted look at the lengths women went to in order to conform to social expectations, making it a valuable historical artifact.