Swearing Collection

WW2 - Home Front - Woman in her Gas Mask. Date: circa 1941

Reception of Jacques de Molay. 1840s; Reception of Jacques de Molay. 1840s. Work by GRANET, Fran篩s Marius (1775-1849); GRANET, Fran篩s Marius (1775-1849). Oil on canvas. FRANCE. Avignon

The New Word in Golf by H. M. Bateman
H. M. Bateman at his explosive best with this cartoon of an irate elderly golfer who fills the air with Anglo-Saxon expletives in frustration at his golf game

The Tennis Court Oath, 20th June 1789, 1791 (oil on canvas)
XIR14667 The Tennis Court Oath, 20th June 1789, 1791 (oil on canvas) by David, Jacques Louis (1748-1825) (after); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

General George Washington swearing in as President at the old city hall of New York. Lithography of 1789. Litography

Silhouette, Enough to Make a Saint Swear
Enough to Make a Saint Swear -- silhouette showing a monk annoyed to see that a cat has knocked over a jug of milk and is lapping it all up

A Very Cross Word Puzzle by William Heath Robinson
As a golfer manages to hit a passer by forcefully on the head with a ball, the illustrator invites the reader to fill in the crossword puzzle: " Across: A Forceful Exclamation!"

The first woman lawyer in France (colour litho)
2807877 The first woman lawyer in France (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The first woman lawyer in France)

Margaret of Anjou, Queen of King Henry VI of England (aquatint)
3638206 Margaret of Anjou, Queen of King Henry VI of England (aquatint) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Margaret of Anjou, Queen of King Henry VI of England)

Swearing at Highgate, 1796. Artist: Isaac Cruikshank
Swearing at Highgate, 1796. A scene outside the Horns Tavern. A portly man is taking an oath before the innkeeper while another man holds a pair of antlers over his head

The inauguration of James Buchanan as President, Washington, 1857. James Buchanan (1791-1868) was the fifteenth President of the United States, serving office between 1857 and 1861

Harold II, last Anglo-Saxon king of England, c1064, (19th century). Artist: James William Edmund Doyle
Harold II, last Anglo-Saxon king of England, c1064, (19th century). Harold c1020-1066) swearing an oath on sacred relics before William of Normandy to support his claim to the English throne on death

Record of the conviction of several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs
3119342 Record of the conviction of several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs; (add.info.: Record of the conviction of several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs a group of 19th century English agricultural labourers)

Coronation of Napoleon I, 2 December 1804. Napoleon swearing the oath. Engraving
543744 Coronation of Napoleon I, 2 December 1804. Napoleon swearing the oath. Engraving.; Universal History Archive/UIG

Confirmation of Dr. Longley's election to the Archbishopric of Canterbury... 1862. Creator: J. M. Williams
Confirmation of Dr. Longley's election to the Archbishopric of Canterbury in the Church of St. Mary-Le-Bow, Cheapside [London]: the Archbishop-elect taking the oaths, 1862

Les Evenements de Grece; Le 4 aout 1917, apres avoir prete serment sur l'Evangile, le roi... 1917. Creator: Unknown
Les Evenements de Grece; Le 4 aout 1917, apres avoir prete serment sur l'Evangile, le roi Alexandre, lit son discours du trone devant la Chambre de 1915

Les Horaces de l'Elysée, 1851. Creator: Honore Daumier
Les Horaces de l'Elysee, 1851. The Horatii of the Elysee. Satire depicting French politicians as the Horatii, triplet warriors of Roman legend

Enfer et damnation!...Sifflée...Siflée!!...Siiiiflée!, 1844. Creator: Honore Daumier
Enfer et damnation!...Sifflee...Siflee!!...Siiiiflee!, 1844. Hell and damnation!... hissed!... hissed!... Hissssed!...(The bluestocking is livid because an audience has just hissed during a)

The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, 1648. Creator: Gerard Terborch II
The Ratification of the Treaty of Munster, 1648

Vocational training hearing, between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Vocational training hearing, between 1910 and 1920. [USA]

No. 6: Ise no Saburo Swears Loyalty to Ushiwakamaru (Rokukai, Ise no Saburo ga kakur... c. 1832/34)
No. 6: Ise no Saburo Swears Loyalty to Ushiwakamaru (Rokukai, Ise no Saburo ga kakurega ni yadorite Ushiwakamaru shuju o yakusu)

Oath ritual of the Samoyed-heathens on a bear hide, 1862-1887. Creator: Mikhail Znamensky
Oath ritual of the Samoyed-heathens on a bear hide, 1862-1887. From an album of 32 original watercolors from the library of Tsar Nicholas II

Shamed footballer Armando de Melo has vowed to take the SFA to court - despite having his two-and-a-half year ban cut to 18 months

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The Irish Chiefs and Kings kneel before King Henry II (1133-1189) at Dublin, Ireland. In October 1171, King Henry landed with a large army in Ireland to establish control over both the Anglo-Normans

England footballer Paul Gascoigne giving the finger during a training session alongside teammates Steve Hodge (left) and Terry Butcher (right). 2nd September 1990

Glasgow Rangers footballer Paul Gascoigne making a one finger gesture while sticking out his tongue during the match against Hearts in the Scottish cup final at Hampden Park

Vue interieure de l Assemblee du Champs-de-Mai... 1815, (1921). Creator
Vue Interieure De L Assemblee Du Champ-De-Mai Au Moment De La Presentation Des Drapeaux, 1 June 1815, (1921). View of the crowd on the Champ de Mai in Paris, as the flags are presented

Swearing the oath of allegiance to Tsar Nicholas II, Russian church in Paris, 1894. Artist: F Meaulle
Swearing the oath of allegiance to Tsar Nicholas II, Russian church in Paris, 1894. Nicholas came to the throne in November 1894 after the death of his father, Alexander III

Harold Godwinson Swearing Oath Maintain Rights
Harold Godwinson, swearing an oath to maintain the rights of the Duke of Normandy to the English throne, 1064. Harold Godwinson, c. 1022 -1066, aka Harold II. Last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king

Spain (1820-1823). Civil war. Fan decorated with an illustration of Ferndinand VII swearing loyalty to the Cadiz Constitution. SPAIN. Barcelona. Textile and Clothing Museum

POLISH INSURRECTION 1794
KOSCIUSKO'S OATH An incident of the Polish Insurrection: Kosciusko vows to drive the Russians, Prussians and Austrians out of Poland or die trying. Date: 1794

Harold swears a sacred oath to William at Bayeux, Bayeux Tapestry (wool embroidery on linen)
XIR154191 Harold swears a sacred oath to William at Bayeux, Bayeux Tapestry (wool embroidery on linen) by English School, (11th century); Musee de la Tapisserie, Bayeux

The swearing in of Jeanne Chauvin at the bar in Chateau-Thierry, France (litho)
3620638 The swearing in of Jeanne Chauvin at the bar in Chateau-Thierry, France (litho) by Prater, Ernest (1864-1950) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

"The gentleman, having searched the lad... denounced great vengeance
2792188 " The gentleman, having searched the lad... denounced great vengeance, swearing he would acquaint Mr Allworthy" (colour litho) by Stott, W.R.S

Incidents of the Opening of Parliament (engraving)
1603889 Incidents of the Opening of Parliament (engraving) by Wilson, Thomas Walter (1851-1912); Private Collection; (add.info.: Incidents of the Opening of Parliament)

We all stand by Sir Guy, illustration from Robin Hood and his Life in the Merry Greenwood, told by Rose Yeatman Woolf
IL197706 We all stand by Sir Guy, illustration from Robin Hood and his Life in the Merry Greenwood, told by Rose Yeatman Woolf, published by Raphael Tuck, 1910-20 (colour litho) by Davie

Sketch for "Oath on the Rütli, " Female Figure (verso), 1779/81; 1785/90 (verso). Creator: Henry Fuseli
Sketch for "Oath on the Rutli, " Female Figure (verso), 1779/81; 1785/90 (verso)

Der Schweizerbund (The Oath on the Rütli), 1806. Creator: Franz Hegi
Der Schweizerbund (The Oath on the Rutli), 1806

A Woman Swearing a Child to a Grave Citizen (engraving)
5226732 A Woman Swearing a Child to a Grave Citizen (engraving) by Hogarth, William (1697-1764) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Woman Swearing a Child to a Grave Citizen)

Hannibal at nine years of age, swearing enmity to the Romans (engraving)
5233480 Hannibal at nine years of age, swearing enmity to the Romans (engraving) by Gravelot, Hubert Francois (1699-1773); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hannibal at nine years of age)

Harold Godwinson swearing an oath on sacred relics to support William, Duke of Normandys claim to the English throne
6015001 Harold Godwinson swearing an oath on sacred relics to support William, Duke of Normandys claim to the English throne (litho) by Board

Trial of the City of Glasgow Bank Directors at Edinburgh (engraving)
1058706 Trial of the City of Glasgow Bank Directors at Edinburgh (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

You are requested to keep the Hall Doors shut on Account of the Animals in the Park (litho)
1056785 You are requested to keep the Hall Doors shut on Account of the Animals in the Park (litho) by Waller, Samuel Edmund (1850-1903) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Mr John Dillon, MP, before the Court of Queens Bench, Dublin (engraving)
1624871 Mr John Dillon, MP, before the Court of Queens Bench, Dublin (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mr John Dillon, MP)

The oath (chromolitho)
1093232 The oath (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The oath. Scene from the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Liebig educational card.); © Look and Learn

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"Unleashing Emotions: Swearing Through the Ages" From the Home Front during World War II, where women donned their gas masks in preparation for potential attacks, to the Reception of Jacques de Molay in the 1840s, it has been a way for people to express their frustrations and emotions. Even in moments of historical significance like The Tennis Court Oath in 1789 or General George Washington's inauguration as President at the old capital, swearing found its place. In France, groundbreaking moments were captured too; from the first woman lawyer proudly depicted in a color lithograph to Margaret of Anjou, Queen of King Henry VI expressing her power through an aquatint portrait. These images remind us that even those who held positions of authority were not immune to letting out a few choice words when pushed. Artists like H. M. Bateman and William Heath Robinson used humor to depict everyday situations that could make anyone swear - whether it was struggling with a new word in golf or attempting to solve a very cross word puzzle. Isaac Cruikshank's depiction of "Swearing at Highgate" shows that this expression transcends time and place. Even Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England in c1064 according to James William Edmund Doyle's artwork, must have faced moments that made him want to let out some expletives. Swearing is not limited by gender or social status; it is an outlet for human emotion throughout history. Whether it be on the battlefield or within political ceremonies such as James Buchanan's inauguration as President in 1857 - swearing has always been there as an unfiltered expression of frustration and passion. So next time you find yourself needing release from life's challenges, remember that you are partaking in an age-old tradition - one shared by men and women alike across centuries.