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Biography(additional)

Isaac grew up in New North Kirk parish in Edinburgh after his family moved there. He was the youngest child, and was interested in all sorts of hobbies including sports and music. Isaac's first caricature etching called Scotch Eloquence was of Edinburgh characters and was created in January of 1784.

Caricature Prominence During Isaac Cruikshank's Era

During the late 18th century, there was an enormous amount of propaganda due to changes of power in Europe, the main being French Revolution. The British Monarchy was also being highly critized of debauchery during this time, as it was a period of economic hardship and debt. Political caricature and graphic satire became a prominent outlet for mass propaganda to express competing perspectives on political and economic issues. The revolution also triggered feelings and expressions of patriotism towards artists' home countries which they depicted by shedding a grotesque light on their countries' enemies.

Isaac Cruikshank, James Gillray, and Thomas Rowlandson were considered the leading caricaturists during this period and produced many popular sketches and graphics to be published to citizens. These three prominent artists' distinct styles and subject matter let them to be notable and widespread and Europe, although they also adapted and changed images from smaller artists. The three artists were sometimes considered rivals as their ideas often took different positions and angles on matters, despite sometimes collaborating on works. A common theme in all three artists' works were the portrayal of gluttony and cannibalism to represent exploitation of the monarchy sparked by the economical effects of the French Revolution These artists, however, were all publishing their work in Britain, as in France censorship laws were at an all time high.

In 1803 after the French declared war on Britain, numerous patriotic prints resulted focused around support and strength for the British homefront. Cruikshank was one of the first to illustrate Napoleon as non-realistic and instead satanic in his work Buonaparte at Rome Giving Audience in State (1797). In 1809, Cruikshank created French Generals Receiving an English Charge which largely attacked Prince Frederick, Duke of York for his scandalous affairs with Mary Anne Clarke during the time.

Legacy

There are believed to be at least 345 prints created by Isaac Cruikshank between 1793 and 1800 that are in the British Museum collection. E.B. Crumbier created a catalog of around 1350 images that Cruikshank produced in his lifetime. In Huntington Library, California, there is also a collection of his watercolor drawings.

Reviews

Censorship in the United Kingdom Although the English enjoyed a fair bit more freedom when it came to public press around the late 18th century in France, British laws too changed depending on the environment of their country. During times like World War 1 and 2, the British government enforced stricter censorship on public expression in order to keep the country calm and in order. The British, however, were affected with more strict laws when the Jacobin Movement was becoming a problem in France. The British government feared a similar uprising in Britain and in response were more strict about the formations of smaller organizations and more sensitive to press released.

Cruikshank was a prime source of medium for not only patriotic propaganda during the French Revolution, but also internal British scandals and current events. He depicted the scandal involving Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, the commander-in-chief of the British army during Napolean's invasions. Cruikshank's was a huge contributor to the widespread news royal scandals, including the Duke of York's affair with Mary Anne Clarke. In 1809 Cruikshank created French Generals Receiving an English Charge. The print shows Napoleon and his generals enjoying several caricatures of the scandal of the Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany and Mary Anne Clarke , most created by Cruikshank himself. In this print he is able to satirize not only the scandal, but also Napoleon at the same time, with the French portrayed as having exaggerated features and outfits.