The Plum-Pudding in Danger

The political cartoon first appeared in England. The significant feature of this genre was its combination of the caricature of a known individual with some political occurrence, which was often represented emblematically. It was the emergence of an official parliamentary opposition in the age of George III that provided the climate in which such open criticism of government could flourish.

The most memorable and original caricaturist of the period was James Gillray. Trained at the Royal Academy, he was an immensely skilled draftsman who was able to draw on a detailed knowledge of historical painting when making his satires. He fully understood the concept of using caricature to present a visual embodiment not just of the features, but also of the characters of his victims. His main butts were the leading politicians of the day, both British and foreign.