Social Commentary Collection

Playing a Tune, (oil on canvas)
822833 Playing a Tune, (oil on canvas) by Witkowski, Karl (1860-1910); 53.3x38.1 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Playing a Tune. Karl Witkowski (1860-1910). Oil on canvas

Street Urchins, (oil on canvas)
985231 Street Urchins, (oil on canvas) by Witkowski, Karl (1860-1910); 61x51 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Street Urchins. Karl Witkowski (1860-1910). Oil on canvas

Prince Albert being urged to think before felling trees in Hyde Park
5312024 Prince Albert being urged to think before felling trees in Hyde Park; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting Prince Albert being urged to think before felling trees in Hyde Park to make way for)

The pleasures and hazards of having one's hair cut by a female barber
5311903 The pleasures and hazards of having one's hair cut by a female barber; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the pleasures and hazards of having one's hair cut by a female barber)

Cartoon depicting a backslider, a term used to describe an individual who has converted to Christianity
5308997 Cartoon depicting a backslider, a term used to describe an individual who has converted to Christianity and then lapses or falls into sin

An engraving depicting plain-clothed policemen making an arrest, 19th century
5311194 An engraving depicting plain-clothed policemen making an arrest, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1889); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The fate of England's sons who lived through service during the Napoleonic wars
5311782 The fate of England's sons who lived through service during the Napoleonic wars; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the fate of England's sons who lived through service during)

A cartoon depicting a tipsy gentleman on his way home, 19th century
5311234 A cartoon depicting a tipsy gentleman on his way home, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1880); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting a New York policeman pulling his handcuffs from his pocket as an arrest is made, 19th century
5311193 An engraving depicting a New York policeman pulling his handcuffs from his pocket as an arrest is made, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1888); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting a man entering a public-house, 19th century
5310986 An engraving depicting a man entering a public-house, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1869); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Cartoon commenting on the cheapness and availability of gin, 19th century
5308987 Cartoon commenting on the cheapness and availability of gin, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the cheapness and availability of gin)

Cartoon commenting on the joys of Spring before the age of the freezer, 19th century
5308972 Cartoon commenting on the joys of Spring before the age of the freezer, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the joys of Spring before the age of the freezer)

Cartoon commenting on the rate that girls are growing at in London, 19th century
5308962 Cartoon commenting on the rate that girls are growing at in London, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the rate that girls are growing at in London)

Cartoon commenting on the disadvantages of arbitration - it can go against you, 19th century
5308704 Cartoon commenting on the disadvantages of arbitration - it can go against you, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the disadvantages of arbitration - it can go against you)

Cartoon commenting on the arrival of the new hippopotamus at Zoological Society in Regent's Park, London
5308718 Cartoon commenting on the arrival of the new hippopotamus at Zoological Society in Regent's Park, London, 19th century; (add.info)

Two aspects of women's lives during the 19th century
5310174 Two aspects of women's lives during the 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon satirising two aspects of women's lives during the 19th century)

The Russian Emigres, c. 1900 (oil on canvas)
1197487 The Russian Emigres, c. 1900 (oil on canvas) by Levy-Dhurmer, Lucien (1865-1953); 92.7x73.8 cm; Private Collection; Photo © Christie's Images.

A cartoon depicting a man with a red flag walking in front of a traction engine, 19th century
5310974 A cartoon depicting a man with a red flag walking in front of a traction engine, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1884); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A cartoon commenting on the hunting man's opinion of the introduction of barbed wire fences, 19th century
5311412 A cartoon commenting on the hunting man's opinion of the introduction of barbed wire fences, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1889); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Cartoon titled 'Ill-news for the criminal fraternity', 19th century
5309064 Cartoon titled 'Ill-news for the criminal fraternity', 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon titled 'Ill-news for the criminal fraternity')

Cartoon depicting the uncomfortable results of gluttony, 19th century
5309060 Cartoon depicting the uncomfortable results of gluttony, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting the uncomfortable results of gluttony)

Cartoon commenting on the teething problems in the development of the sewing machine, 19th century
5308961 Cartoon commenting on the teething problems in the development of the sewing machine, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the teething problems in the development of the sewing)

Cartoon commenting on the living conditions of the English agricultural labourer - a plea for the English agricultural
5308636 Cartoon commenting on the living conditions of the English agricultural labourer - a plea for the English agricultural labourer to be as well housed as the trees in the pinery at Kew Gardens

A cartoon commenting on the fashionable revival of phrenology, 19th century
5311366 A cartoon commenting on the fashionable revival of phrenology, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1878); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Cartoon commenting on the delights of the new fangled telephone, 19th century
5309007 Cartoon commenting on the delights of the new fangled telephone, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the delights of the new fangled telephone)

Cartoon depicting a young couple trying to use the telephone in the pursuit of love, 19th century
5308998 Cartoon depicting a young couple trying to use the telephone in the pursuit of love, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting a young couple trying to use the telephone in the pursuit of)

Cartoon commenting on the widespread practice to water-down milk and charge the customer full price, 19th century
5308958 Cartoon commenting on the widespread practice to water-down milk and charge the customer full price, 19th century; (add.info)

Cartoon titled 'Pigs'
5308955 Cartoon titled 'Pigs'; (add.info.: Cartoon titled 'Pigs'. For the Irish peasants the house pig was truly "The Gentleman that pays the Rint")

Cartoon commenting on the dread of hydrophobia taken to ridiculous lengths, 19th century
5308662 Cartoon commenting on the dread of hydrophobia taken to ridiculous lengths, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the dread of hydrophobia taken to ridiculous lengths)

Cartoon commenting on William Banting's cure for obesity which excluded fats and carbohydrates
5308717 Cartoon commenting on William Banting's cure for obesity which excluded fats and carbohydrates; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on William Banting's cure for obesity which excluded)

Cartoon depicting men commenting on being vaccinated against cowpox
5309435 Cartoon depicting men commenting on being vaccinated against cowpox; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting men commenting on being vaccinated against cowpox)

The hazards of being able to afford medical advice
5311754 The hazards of being able to afford medical advice; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the hazards of being able to afford medical advice during the early 19th century)

Cartoon commenting on the state of the living conditions of London's poor, 19th century
5309117 Cartoon commenting on the state of the living conditions of London's poor, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the state of the living conditions of London's poor)

Cartoon depicting a boat race falling victim to London fog, 19th century
5309076 Cartoon depicting a boat race falling victim to London fog, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting a boat race falling victim to London fog)

A cartoon depicting a tipsy gentleman on his way home, 19th century
5311233 A cartoon depicting a tipsy gentleman on his way home, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1883); Universal History Archive/UIG.

A cartoon commenting on the watering-down of milk reaching such proportions that legislation had to be brought in to
5310797 A cartoon commenting on the watering-down of milk reaching such proportions that legislation had to be brought in to check it

Cartoon commenting on the potential perils of the video-phone - privacy has been breached by a wrong connection
5308637 Cartoon commenting on the potential perils of the video-phone - privacy has been breached by a wrong connection, 19th century; (add.info)

Cartoon commenting on the Colorado Beetle
5308618 Cartoon commenting on the Colorado Beetle; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the Colorado Beetle. In 1877 the feat that the Colorado Beetle would arrive in Britain)

An engraving depicting a drunkard staggering home, 18th century
5310758 An engraving depicting a drunkard staggering home, 18th century; (add.info.: Date: 1780); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The American Civil War
5310175 The American Civil War; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the American Civil War. A young woman holds a map of a divided United States. On the table next to her is an early sewing machine)

Cartoon depicting Anthony John Mundella chasing a Colorado Beetle
5308984 Cartoon depicting Anthony John Mundella chasing a Colorado Beetle; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting Anthony John Mundella chasing a Colorado Beetle)

Cartoon commenting on the growing popularity of roller-skates in Great Britain, 19th century
5308711 Cartoon commenting on the growing popularity of roller-skates in Great Britain, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the growing popularity of roller-skates in Great Britain)

The air pollution common in Victorian cities
5310197 The air pollution common in Victorian cities; (add.info.: Cartoon commenting on the air pollution common in Victorian cities)

A London volunteer cleaning his rifle
5312160 A London volunteer cleaning his rifle; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting a London volunteer cleaning his rifle ready for the annual summer manoeuvres in Hyde Park)

Cartoon depicting men queuing to have their photographic portraits taken, 19th century
5308732 Cartoon depicting men queuing to have their photographic portraits taken, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon depicting men queuing to have their photographic portraits taken)

A Soviet porcelain propaganda plate, painted with a worker and a peasant shaking hands, early 20th century (porcelain)
1195707 A Soviet porcelain propaganda plate, painted with a worker and a peasant shaking hands, early 20th century (porcelain) by Russian School (20th century)

Self-portrait, 1910 (gouache, watercolour and charcoal on paper)
990803 Self-portrait, 1910 (gouache, watercolour and charcoal on paper) by Schiele, Egon (1890-1918); 45x30 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Self-portrait; Selbstbildnis. Egon Schiele (1890-1918)

Cartoon illustrating the Victorian enthusiasm for natural history
5309005 Cartoon illustrating the Victorian enthusiasm for natural history; (add.info.: Cartoon illustrating the Victorian enthusiasm for natural history)

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"Unveiling Society's Reflections: A Journey through Social Commentary" Step into the world of art as it becomes a mirror reflecting society's triumphs and tribulations. From the delicate strokes of "Playing a Tune" to the raw emotions captured in "Street Urchins, " these oil on canvas masterpieces transport us to different eras, urging us to ponder upon their hidden messages. Intriguingly, even cartoons have played a pivotal role in social commentary. Take for instance the Victorian fascination with natural history depicted in an animated form or the thought-provoking illustration titled "Poisoning by Food Adulteration. " These satirical images expose societal issues that demanded immediate attention during those times. John Leech, an exceptional caricaturist and illustrator from the 19th century, skillfully portrayed his concerns through his work. His cartoon highlighting milk dilution reaching alarming levels emphasizes how legislation was necessary to curb this dangerous practice. Moving forward in time, we encounter self-portraits like "Self-portrait, 1910, " where artists themselves become subjects of introspection. The intense gaze and intricate details reveal their inner struggles and aspirations. "The Old Miner, " painted in 1925, captures not only physical labor but also speaks volumes about class divisions prevalent at that time. This powerful portrayal serves as a reminder of forgotten voices echoing from beneath our feet. Political cartoons have long been used as tools for expressing dissent or supporting causes. The lithograph titled "The Democratic Platform" comments on slavery during its era while shedding light on political dynamics surrounding this contentious issue. Delving deeper into history reveals engravings such as "Ould Mr Fogarty has been called to the Bar. " This image humorously reflects upon legal proceedings and perhaps raises questions about justice itself. Artistic expression doesn't shy away from addressing gender roles either; paintings like "What Do You Think?" challenge societal norms prevailing at that time.