The Theatrical Bubble;–being a new Specimen of the Astonishing Powers of the Great Politiico-Punchinello in the Art of Dramatic Puffing 1805

"The Theatrical Bubble" is a satirical etching by British artist James Gillray (1756-1815) that critiques the contemporary theatre scene. Created in 1805, the print depicts a caricatured figure, the “Politico-Punchinello,” blowing a bubble that represents the inflated popularity of theatrical productions. The bubble reflects a scene of a man seemingly attempting to climb a monument. The print, now located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, utilizes a dramatic composition and bold lines to highlight the absurdity and excesses of the theatre world.