The Ceremony of Investiture of My L**d S**m**th with the Order of Cabbage-hood 1819

J. Lewis Marks created "The Ceremony of Investiture of My L**d S**m**th with the Order of Cabbage-hood" using etching, engraving, and watercolor. Observe the symbolic weight of the cabbage. Here, it is not merely a vegetable, but a potent symbol of ridicule aimed at figures of authority. The "Order of Cabbage-hood" suggests a mock knighthood, undermining the legitimacy and gravitas of traditional honors. This act of symbolic inversion, where the humble cabbage is elevated to an emblem of derision, finds echoes in other satirical traditions across time. The carnivalesque spirit, where the world is turned upside down, can be traced back to ancient festivals. This is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, touching upon shared anxieties and frustrations with authority. The cabbage, in this context, resurfaces as a cyclical motif, mocking the pomposity of power.