Monstrosity of 1829 1829

"Monstrosity of 1829," a satirical hand-colored etching by William Heath, is a humorous commentary on the exaggerated fashions of the early 19th century. The print depicts a woman wearing an enormous, impractical hat and an equally outlandish dress with large, puffy sleeves, exaggerated by the artist to emphasize the absurdity of the trend. The work, published in 1829, is a prime example of satirical art that reflects on the societal trends of the time and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.