Undeviating Rectitude Possibly 1819

George Cruikshank created this print, "Undeviating Rectitude", in London in 1819. It shows a man stepping over a woman who is lying on the ground, and caricatures the social codes of early 19th century England. Cruikshank was a leading caricaturist, and his work often poked fun at the social and political issues of his day. Here, he critiques the rigid social etiquette of the "stiff necked generation." The man's exaggeratedly upright posture and the woman's undignified position are visual cues that point to the absurdity of these codes. The print’s subtitle, "A Hint for the Hood Winked," suggests that people are blind to the ridiculousness of these social conventions. Prints like this were widely circulated and debated, revealing a growing awareness of social inequalities and a desire for reform. As historians, we can use sources such as newspapers, pamphlets, and diaries to reconstruct the social and political context in which this image was created and consumed, shedding light on the complex interplay between art and society.