D_d Angelic pon honor-Fascinating Creature Monstrous Handsome!! Possibly 1817

This hand-colored etching, “D—d Angelic pon honor-Fascinating Creature Monstrous Handsome!!,” was created by George Cruikshank, an English caricaturist, in 1817. Cruikshank’s work emerged during a period of immense social and political change, including the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of industrialization. He adeptly lampooned the excesses and absurdities of Regency England, and, here, Cruikshank blurs the lines of gender identity. The figure is dressed in a man's tailcoat, gloves, and hat. Yet, this figure has a distinctly feminine hairstyle, and rouged cheeks, playing with the visual codes of masculinity and femininity. Cruikshank presents us with a figure who defies easy categorization, challenging the rigid gender norms of his time. By exaggerating and distorting physical features, Cruikshank holds up a mirror to society, inviting viewers to question the values and assumptions of their world. The artist encourages us to consider the ways in which appearances can both reveal and conceal, challenging us to look beyond surface-level judgments.