The Friend of the People & his Petty New Tax Gatherer, Paying John Bull a Visit
Original title: "The Friend of the People" & his Petty New Tax Gatherer, Paying John Bull a Visit
kurzbeschreibung
A tax collector and his assistant stand before a house, staging the burden of taxation in James Gillray's 1806 satire. The hand-colored print lampoons the growing tax load on Britain with sharp wit.
Description
In the foreground, a man in a blue jacket and suspenders holds up a paper labeled 'NEW TAXES'. Beside him on the right stands a companion in a red shirt and blue trousers, carrying a horn or trumpet. Behind them, a house displays signs and notices referring to taxes and finances. From a window, a man in a cap looks out with a worried expression. Earth tones dominate the palette, accented with blue and red.
Context
Gillray created the caricature in May 1806 under King George III, responding to the government's tax policy, which imposed heavy duties to fund state spending after the Napoleonic Wars. John Bull embodies the British citizen suffering under these new taxes.
Impact
Humorous yet sharply critical, the print foregrounds the strain taxes place on the population. The exaggerated figures and unambiguous imagery prompt viewers to question the political situation.
Technique
A hand-colored etching on paper. The plate measures 34.6 x 24.8 cm, the sheet 37.5 x 29.2 cm. The watercolor coloring heightens the satirical character of the caricature.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)