Fashionable Contrasts (1792) by James Gillray
As well as being blatant in his observations, James Gillray could be incredibly subtle, and puncture vanity with a remarkably deft approach. The outstanding example of this is his print Fashionable Contrasts;—or—The Duchess’s little Shoe yeilding [sic] to the Magnitude of the Duke’s Foot. This was a devastating image aimed at the ridiculous sycophancy directed by the press towards Frederica Charlotte Ulrica, Duchess of York, and the supposed daintiness of her feet. The print showed only the feet and ankles of the Duke and Duchess of York, in an obviously copulatory position, with the Duke’s feet enlarged and the Duchess’s feet drawn very small. This print silenced forever the sycophancy of the press regarding the union of the Duke and Duchess.
The print was originally published by Hannah Humphrey on January 24, 1792.
It is Icon of Erotic Art #44.
One of his best, no doubt.
I became a Gillray fan after going to this exhibit, now partially online:
http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/spe/art/print/exhibits/gillray/selection.html
I could go on about the man endlessly, but don’t listen to me, go to that link.
His prints are the only thing I have ever collected, since rocks and metal cars as a boy, but it is not cheap!