Embarrassment Collection

The Visitors Who Told the Master Off by H. M. Bateman
Cartoon by the master of social satire, H. M. Bateman, showing a somewhat arrogant visitor to a hunt lecture the Master of Foxhounds much to the shock of other members. Date: 1936

The Car That Touched a Policeman by H. M. Bateman
An entire queue of traffic, as well as pedestrians stop and look on in horror as a couple driving a small, yellow car accidentally bump an incandescently irate policeman in the middle of the road

Films Carry On Camping Barbara Windsor covers her breasts with her hands after losing her bikini top during morning PT lesson as Kenneth Williams looks on open mouthed and in shock

Man wearing barrel

Blonde in Bath 1960S
A blonde model sits in a trendy, but miniscule bubble bath, covering her embarrassment with a sponge whilst taking a phone call

Man falling off a broken chair at a dinner party causing a servant to spill a soup tureen over him. Other guests shocked, servants amused. More Miseries

Lingerie modesty screen / W H Robinson
For those who don t wish to air their lingerie in public - the modesty screen can be placed to enclose such offending items from view when on the washing line

The inconvenience of Kabriolets. A lady's dress gets caught up in her carriage whilst she dismounts
1000874 The inconvenience of Kabriolets. A lady's dress gets caught up in her carriage whilst she dismounts. From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs

Krishna Steals the Gopis Clothing, 1775-1800. Creator: Unknown
Krishna Steals the Gopis Clothing, 1775-1800. The Hindu god Krishna steals the clothing of the gopis - young women of Brindavan - while they are bathing in the Yamuna River

Un locataire qui doit trois termes, 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Un locataire qui doit trois termes, 1847. A tenant who is behind with his rent. (Landlord looks annoyed as embarassed tenant raises hat). From Locataires et proprietaires, no. 20

Entrez donc, monsieur...ne vous gênez pas... 1847. Creator: Honore Daumier
Entrez donc, monsieur...ne vous genez pas... 1847. Hesitant client arrives at an artist's studio where a nude female model is posing: Enter monsieur, don't worry...'

Carotte du Restaurant, 1844. Creator: Honore Daumier
Carotte du Restaurant, 1844. - J'offrirai a monsieur un petit diner distingue et pas cher'. - Tres bien! - Six douzaines marennes

La femme. Je viens de découvrir une mèche... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
La femme. Je viens de decouvrir une meche... 19th century. Conjugal Morals - (The woman.) I just discovered a wick in your vest

Un homme dans ses petits souliers, 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Un homme dans ses petits souliers, 19th century. Smartly-dressed man facing scruffier man holding a pair of boots. The French phrase etre dans ses petits souliers translates as feeling small

Le danseur qui se pique d'avoir conservé... 19th century. Creator: Honore Daumier
Le danseur qui se pique d'avoir conserve... 19th century. [Male dancer in a tutu]. The dancer who regrets having maintained the wonderful traditions of Vestris

'A Supper Extra, 1890. Creator: Unknown
'A Supper Extra, 1890. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 42. July to December, 1890

'A Canoeing Incident at the Seaside, 1891. Creator: G Durand
'A Canoeing Incident at the Seaside, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

Portrait of a young girl. Creator: Ecole Francaise
Portrait of a young girl

Where You Should Not Dine on Christmas Day - drawn by Leech, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Where You Should Not Dine on Christmas Day - drawn by Leech, 1850. Illustration to "Cold out of Doors, and Cold In-Doors, or, Tom Smithers's Christmas Day"....in walked Tom

Illustration to "Fred Holdsworth; or, Love and Pride", by Thomas Miller, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Illustration to "Fred Holdsworth; or, Love and Pride", by Thomas Miller, 1850. There was a laugh round the table, which made Fred blush up to the ears ; while his aunt was delighted

Prince Charles pulling up his shorts on a beach in Australia royal Prince of Wales having fun in the water Funny picture taken from behind in the ocean March 1979

Linda Siegal Wimbledon Tennis Championships June 1979 had a very embarassing afternoon at Wimbledon Her Very revealing dress became a bit to revealing towards the end of her match with Billie Jean

Bum scratch - children
I can t bare it. A small girl scratches her bottom while her little brother sits in a pushchair and covers his face. Leominster, Herefordshire, England Date: circa 1972

RF - Sable-point rabbit, grooming face

Spys Taken at Greenwich, 1798. Mother Windsor with four of her courtesans orders her girls to arrest Shute Barrington, the Bishop of Durham and the Duke of Queensberry

Alfred in the Neat-Herds Cottage, 1776. Artist: I Hall
Alfred in the Neat-Herds Cottage, 1776. King Alfred, in disguise, is rebuked by the Neat Herds Wife, for letting the cakes burn. Alfred the Great (849-899), Anglo-Saxon king of Wessex from 871

Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2796100 Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Bac, Ferdinand Sigismund (1859-1952); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for Le Rire, 9 August 1902.); © Look and Learn

Copperplate engraving from Physica Sacra'by the Swiss scholar. Johann Jakob Scheuchzer
5306587 Copperplate engraving from Physica Sacra by the Swiss scholar. Johann Jakob Scheuchzer by Scheuchzer, Johann Jakob (1672-1733); Universal History Archive/UIG

What do you mean young man? Business or Pleasure? (colour litho)
3641715 What do you mean young man? Business or Pleasure? (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: What do you mean young man? Business or Pleasure)

The Eve of Marriage, Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2804900 The Eve of Marriage, Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Caran d Ache (Emmanuel Poire) (1858-1909) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Eve of Marriage)

Leap-Year Etiquette (colour litho)
2795412 Leap-Year Etiquette (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Leap-Year Etiquette. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Supporters Rampant: Prime Minister Asquith is embarrassed by the fiery speeches of LLoyd George and Winston Churchill
KDC400235 Supporters Rampant: Prime Minister Asquith is embarrassed by the fiery speeches of LLoyd George and Winston Churchill, 1909 (litho) by Partridge

The Origin of the Order of the Garter, illustration from Stories of Royal Children from English History
IL197497 The Origin of the Order of the Garter, illustration from Stories of Royal Children from English History, by Doris Ashley, published by Raphael Tuck, 1920 (colour litho) by Davie

Embarrassing Family Relations, 1893 (w / c on paper)
OVR368833 Embarrassing Family Relations, 1893 (w/c on paper) by Kittelsen, Theodor Severin (1857-1914); 27x22 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: from the series Do the Animals have a soul)

Why Should I Blush (valentine), c. 1840. Creator: George Kershaw
Why Should I Blush (valentine), c. 1840

Man seized by leg cramp in the honeymoon bed
5893720 Man seized by leg cramp in the honeymoon bed. by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); (add.info.: Man seized by leg cramp in the honeymoon bed)

Man forced to kiss an ugly woman at a dance party
5893709 Man forced to kiss an ugly woman at a dance party. by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); (add.info.: Man forced to kiss an ugly woman at a dance party during a game of forfeits. More Miseries)

Being nervous and cross-examined by Mr. Garrow
5893699 Being nervous and cross-examined by Mr. Garrow. by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827); (add.info.: Being nervous and cross-examined by lawyer Mr. Garrow in court. More Miseries)

"She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward
3626438 " She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous apperance" (colour litho) by Smith

Not Here (colour litho)
5230178 Not Here (colour litho) by Underwood, Clarence F. (1871-1929); Private Collection; (add.info.: Not Here. Illustration from Girls of Today (Frederick A Stokes Company, New York)

Street scene with a row of closed shops and a closed public toilet (colour litho)
977948 Street scene with a row of closed shops and a closed public toilet (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

L embarras des capotes (coloured engraving)
968916 L embarras des capotes (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: L embarras des capotes)

Things have come down a lot lately (colour litho)
2815975 Things have come down a lot lately (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Things have come down a lot lately)

Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2804914 Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Faivre, Jules Abel (1867-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Illustration for Le Rire, 14 October 1899.); © Look and Learn

The Jersey Smuggler detected, or Good cause for Separation
3035671 The Jersey Smuggler detected, or Good cause for Separation, Marriage Vows are False as Dicers oaths, pub. 1796 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray

Man sitting down on a startled cat in his chair and being scolded by an old woman. Miseries Domestic. Handcoloured copperplate engraving designed

Visiting gentlemen refused entry to a house by a servant. The Inflexible Porter. Handcoloured copperplate engraving designed by Henry Bunbury

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"Embracing the Uncomfortable: A Journey through Embarrassment" In a world filled with moments that make us cringe, embarrassment is an emotion we all know too well. From H. M. Bateman's comical illustration of "The Car That Touched a Policeman, " to Barbara Windsor's iconic scene in "Carry On Camping, " where she covers her breasts with her hands, these instances remind us of our vulnerability. Sometimes, embarrassment takes on unexpected forms - like the man wearing a barrel as his only attire or the blonde in a 1960s bath who finds herself caught off guard and can strike even at formal events, as witnessed by the unfortunate soul falling off a broken chair during a dinner party. Yet, throughout history and art, it has been immortalized. Masaccio's fresco "Expulsion" from Brancacci Chapel captures Adam and Eve's shame after their disobedience – an eternal reminder of human fallibility. W. H Robinson's lingerie modesty screen serves as both protection and source of unease for those seeking privacy. Children are not exempt from embarrassing situations either; their innocent bum scratches bring laughter mixed with discomfort. Even royalty experiences awkwardness - Prince Charles pulling up his shorts on an Australian beach reminds us that no one is immune to life's little mishaps. Embarrassment extends beyond humans; animals too have their share of blush-worthy moments. The sable-point rabbit grooming its face shows vulnerability even in nature itself. And let's not forget spies caught red-handed at Greenwich in 1798 or Alfred finding himself out of place in the Neat-Herds Cottage painting from 1776 – reminders that secrets exposed can lead to undeniable humiliation. While embarrassment may cause temporary discomfort, it also unites us through shared experiences and laughter at our own expense. These snapshots capture humanity at its most vulnerable but also highlight our ability to find humor amidst blushing cheeks.