Dido in Despair
By: James Gillray Published: 1801 Clothing in Text: Note the white fabric on top of the woman's head with a ribbon wrapped around. Social Commentary:
The cap in this engraving functions as a representation of womanhood even in a state of undress. She is technically in improper dress to receive visitors, though she is pictured leaping out of bed. Her sleeping cap represents impropriety, an unfashionable entrance into the public sphere. This scene represents a romance between Admiral Nelson and a woman of aristocracy, as noted by Bolton: "By far the most striking feature of this caricature, however, is Emma's ludicrous size. Gillray used Emma's obesity to rewrite romance by representing her vulgarity in bodily form" (Bolton 97). In this image the cap also shows her crude character by showing her state of undress to imply scandal. Gillray's engravings were often political as well; he commented on the social sphere and its representations in popular culture. These caricatures were popular with the 18th century audience, as they could show scandal without mentioning names |
Other Clothing Reference:
Stocking Shoe
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