Related
The Rehearsal or the Baron and the Elephant
The Loves of the Fox and The Badger, or The Coalition Wedding.
The theatrical atlas / G. Cruikshank fect., British Cartoon Print
Wallrad und Evchen, oder, Die Parforsjagd ein Singspiel
Sleigh ride galop; or, Crack the whip
The fox and the crocodile [cont.]; The roosters and the partridge.
Colugo or Flying Lemur. - Public domain zoological illustration
Cygnus ferus. Wild Swan, or Whooper.
Wallrad und Evchen, oder, Die Parforsjagd ein Singspiel
The rehearsal or the baron and the elephant / G. Cruikshank, fect.
Summary
A satire on the Covent Garden pantomime of 1812-13, which caused a sensation by the performance of an elephant. The elephant crushes under a fore-foot a bust of Shakespeare and a number of open books. Baron Geramb, wearing an enormous moustache, bestrides the upper part of the trunk. On the elephant's back, in place of the 'Sultan of Cashmire,' sits John Kemble, who throws behind him his socks and ermine-bordered cloak inscribed "King John's Mantle" towards an actor, Elliston(?).
It wasn't really until the 1700s that caricature truly blossomed as a form of political criticism. In the late 1750s, a man named Thomas Townshend began using the techniques employed by earlier engravers and applying them towards a political model. This gave Thompson's cartoons a much greater feeling of propaganda than previous artistic critiques of the time. The intense political climate of the period, and often accusatory nature of most political cartoons forced many artists to use pseudonyms in order to avoid accusations of libel. Other artists took it a step farther, and left their cartoons completely unsigned, foregoing any credit they may have received. Political higher-ups were notoriously touchy about their reputations and were not afraid to make examples of offenders. Puck was the first successful humor magazine in the United States of colorful cartoons, caricatures and political satire of the issues of the day. It was published from 1871 until 1918.