Venus a la Coquelle: or the Swan-sea Venus
Original title: Venus a la Coquelle: or the Swan-sea Venus
kurzbeschreibung
In his hand-colored etching from 1809, James Gillray turns the goddess Venus into a comic spectacle: instead of gliding in her usual splendor, she crouches in a boat pulled across the sea by two swans that serve as rowers. The print belongs among Gillray's political and social satires.
Description
A Venus figure squats amidships, dressed entirely in green, green headpiece included. Two swans, adorned with red ribbons, are harnessed to the front of the craft; on one of the birds, two tiny figures in soldier uniforms hold a stick as a tiller. Sky and sea blur into a cloudy expanse, and a yellow border frames the image.
Context
Gillray made this print in England in 1809, when political satire and caricature were flourishing and he was their leading figure. The title alludes to the fashion of the day and possibly to the Duchess of Devonshire, known as "Venus." Celebrities and politicians regularly fell under Gillray's scrutiny; exactly which person or social event is meant here can no longer be determined with certainty.
Impact
Mythological motif and grotesque distortion collide, producing a comic-ironic tone that invites a smile. The strong colors and many details draw the eye to the absurdity of the whole, as is typical of Gillray's satire.
Technique
Fine etched lines and dense hatching give the print its structure before hand-coloring fills figures and details with lively color. The color layers add accents along the etched contours, sharpening both outline and humorous effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)