Irish Poets Grace to Short Allowance! 1805 - 1810

Isaac Cruikshank’s satirical hand-colored etching “The Irish Poets Grace to a Short Allowance!” (1805-1810) depicts a scene of a poor Irish family struggling with hunger. The image satirizes Irish poverty and the societal perception of the Irish as lazy and dependent on government assistance. The title is a play on the traditional grace before meals, with the family's meager meal symbolizing the “short allowance” that they are forced to survive on. This artwork, now held by The Art Institute of Chicago, reflects the social commentary prevalent in British caricature of the time.