The Sick Goose and the Council of Health from George Cruikshank's Steel Etchings to The Comic Almanacks: 1835-1853 (top left) c. 1847 - 1880

Editor: Alright, let’s look at this print, “The Sick Goose and the Council of Health,” part of George Cruikshank's "Comic Almanacks," dating roughly from 1847 to 1880. It depicts a rather large, ill-looking goose being attended to by what seems like skeletal doctors. The mood is definitely satirical. What do you see as the most interesting aspect of this piece? Curator: I'm struck by how Cruikshank uses caricature to comment on public health and institutional power. Think about it: in the 19th century, anxieties surrounding health, particularly infectious diseases, were pervasive. He positions these skeletal figures – stand-ins for doctors or maybe even the government – as ineffectual, even ghoulish. Editor: So you see this more as a statement about the system rather than the individual sickness? Curator: Exactly. Consider the historical context: The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 had just reshaped social welfare. This image might critique the perceived coldness and inadequacy of these new systems in caring for the vulnerable – symbolized by the "sick goose." Cruikshank’s work was often overtly political. The "Comic Almanacks" weren't just for laughs. Editor: It is true the figures don't exactly inspire confidence... their height exaggerates the scene. Curator: Note, too, how he renders the "goose," right? Its size and placement make it feel monumental, but helpless. In visual art, how are those themes made socio-political in public spaces? The use of such stark imagery had significant social implications during a period defined by social and political tension in England. How might that have impacted viewers at the time? Editor: This really does turn it into more than just a funny drawing. I hadn't considered how the artwork connected to the issues present in English Society at that point in time. Curator: Precisely! By delving into the historical backdrop, we uncover the satire's sharp edge and the artist's broader commentary on Victorian society.