Farmer Giles & his Wife 1 - 1809

"Farmer Giles & his Wife showing off their daughter Betty to their neighbours on her return from School" is a satirical hand-colored etching by James Gillray, a prominent British caricaturist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Created in 1809, this work showcases Gillray's characteristic wit and keen eye for social commentary. The scene depicts a comical gathering, likely in a middle-class home, where the farmer and his wife are flaunting their daughter's supposed accomplishments to their less-refined neighbors. Gillray's exaggerated figures and expressions underscore the social awkwardness and pretension of the era, making this satirical print a humorous critique of English society.