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Fashion Before Ease, or A Good Constitution Sacrificed for a Fantastic Form, pub
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Fashion Before Ease, or A Good Constitution Sacrificed for a Fantastic Form, pub
2655351 Fashion Before Ease, or A Good Constitution Sacrificed for a Fantastic Form, pub. 1793 (hand coloured engraving) by Woodward, George Moutard (c.1760-1809); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright
Media ID 22681640
© The Stapleton Collection / Bridgeman Images
Absurd Bonnet Rouge Britannia Corset Difficult Effort Lacing Liberty Cap Rights Of Man Stays Thomas Paine
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This hand-coloured engraving titled "Fashion Before Ease, or A Good Constitution Sacrificed for a Fantastic Form" offers a satirical commentary on the absurdity of fashion trends in 18th-century Britain. Created by George Moutard Woodward in 1793, this cartoon-like artwork depicts a scene filled with exaggerated characters and symbols. In the foreground, we see a female figure struggling to breathe as she is tightly laced into her corset. Her uncomfortable attire represents the societal pressure placed upon women to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. On her head rests a bonnet rouge, symbolizing French revolutionary ideals and perhaps hinting at the influence of French fashion on British society during that time. Meanwhile, a male figure stands nearby wearing an equally ridiculous outfit adorned with spears and shields. This character may represent the perceived threat of French revolutionary ideas infiltrating British society. The background features a cottage nestled among trees, possibly alluding to rural simplicity juxtaposed against urban extravagance. The presence of Thomas Paine's book "Rights of Man" further emphasizes political undertones within this artwork. Woodward's satire highlights how individuals sacrifice their well-being and personal freedom in pursuit of fashionable appearances. Through clever symbolism and caricatured figures, this print serves as both entertainment and social critique—a reminder that sometimes style comes at too high a cost.
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