Artwork
"Taking the Air" in Hyde Park [verso]
!["Taking the Air" in Hyde Park [verso], by George Cruikshank, ink, 1865](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/george-cruikshank--taking-the-air-in-hyde-park-verso--fca533d3cbd8a4b7-w1024.webp)
"Taking the Air" in Hyde Park [verso] is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist George Cruikshank. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in pen and brown ink: "Taking the Air" in Hyde Park / Fashions of 1865; lower center verso in graphite: -"Crinolina"- and the Consequences.; lower right verso in pen and black ink: Geo Cruikshank.
About this work
Overview
Taking the Air in Hyde Park (verso) is a 1865 drawing by George Cruikshank, executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite on wove paper. It captures a lively scene in Hyde Park, conveying a sense of joy and spontaneity.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a group of formally dressed individuals in Hyde Park, with a central figure, a woman, shown in mid-air, her skirt lifted to reveal petticoats. Onlookers watch with interest, suggesting a moment of unexpected, carefree amusement.
Technique & Style
Cruikshank's characteristic graphic style is evident in the use of pen, brown ink, and brown wash, which imbues the scene with dynamic movement and energy. The technique enhances the overall sense of lively spontaneity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1865 by George Cruikshank, a renowned British caricaturist and illustrator (often likened to Hogarth), known for satirical works and collaborations with Charles Dickens. Specific provenance details for this work are not provided.
Context
Reflecting mid-19th-century British social life, the drawing highlights the contrast between formal attire and spontaneous behavior in a public, upscale setting like Hyde Park.
Legacy
As part of Cruikshank's oeuvre, the drawing contributes to his legacy as a chronicler of Victorian life and manners, though its individual impact within his broader body of work is not specified.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
George Cruikshank or Cruickshank ( KRUUK-shank; 27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life.
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