Real Inhabitants of This Earth
January 10th, 1796
Medium
Stipple engraving and etching
Dimensions
Plate: 11 5/8 × 9 9/16 in. (29.5 × 24.3 cm) Sheet: 14 13/16 × 10 7/8 in. (37.7 × 27.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund and Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, by Exchange, 1970
Accession Number
1970.541.169
Tags
Art Historical Context
This 1796 stipple engraving and etching, titled *Real Inhabitants of This Earth*, showcases the collaborative talents of caricaturist Henry William Bunbury, publisher Thomas Macklin, and engraver George Shepheard. Created in Britain during the turbulent years of the French Revolution, the print belongs to a vibrant tradition of Georgian satire that used humor to examine human folly and social behavior. Its tags highlight the central figures—men, women, and dogs—suggesting a witty commentary on everyday life and perhaps the blurred lines between civilized society and more primal instincts. Sti...