Operatical reform; – or – la dance a l’eveque
1796
James Gillray, the undisputed king of British caricature, takes a cheeky swipe at the ballet world in this 1796 satire. Three dancers prance across the stage in scandalously short dresses, holding flower garlands, while the text below mockingly compares them to Adam and Eve dancing naked. It's a hilarious critique of the 'Operatical Reform,' poking fun at the new fashion for revealing costumes that had the conservative crowd clutching their pearls. You can even see the orchestra pit in the foreground, with abandoned instruments suggesting the musicians are as shocked as the audience!
- Technique
- etching
- Material
- Paper
Location: British Museum
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