s2e35 History of Prints James Gillray

In this History of Prints episode, Tru and Ann look at the considerable output of British satirist James Gillray (1756–1857). Younger than William Hogarth by nearly sixty years, Gillray took Hogarth’s social commentary, its energy, and caustic approach, and turned his skills to skewer politicians and kings, laugh at Napoleon and his empire building, point out the absurdity of the fear of vaccines, and make clear the debauchery of public executions. In fact, he’s now called the father of the political cartoon. With scary parallels to current events, Gillray’s acerbic eye nails it every time.