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An Ugly Rush!, 1870. Artist: Joseph Swain
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An Ugly Rush!, 1870. Artist: Joseph Swain
An Ugly Rush!, 1870. Womans Vote Bill. A stout John Bull, the representative of the British people or, in this case, British men, puts his back to the door upon which a number of women pound with their various demands. The previous year, women ratepayers had been given the right to vote in local elections. However, a Bill had recently been introduced proposing that women should be granted a parliamentary franchise. The proposal had been rejected, much to Mr Punchs relief. It is always worth noting how the women activists are presented. With their skirts slightly too short for modesty, they are decorated with rosettes. They are usually depicted as acidic spinsters, embittered, bespectacled, and the complete antithesis of the young woman walking behind this group in the street. She is the epitome of the modest wife, and good mother. From Punch, or the London Charivari, May 28, 1870
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Media ID 14831450
© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images
Activism Activist Door Glasses Heritage Image Partnership John Bull John Tenniel Joseph Swain Rights Rosette Sir John Tenniel Spectacles Swain Tenniel Vote Voter Voting Allegorical Figure
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An Ugly Rush!, 1870 - A Satirical Depiction of Women's Activism in Victorian Britain
EDITORS COMMENTS
. This print titled "An Ugly Rush!, 1870" by Joseph Swain captures the essence of political turmoil surrounding women's rights in Victorian Britain. The image portrays a stout John Bull, symbolizing British men, barricading himself behind a door while women pound on it with their demands for equal voting rights. The context of this artwork is crucial; the previous year had granted women ratepayers the right to vote in local elections. However, a parliamentary franchise bill proposing wider suffrage for women was recently rejected, much to Mr Punch's relief. What stands out in this illustration is how the female activists are presented. With their skirts slightly shorter than societal norms and adorned with rosettes representing their cause, they are depicted as acidic spinsters - embittered and bespectacled. Interestingly, contrasting them is a young woman walking behind them on the street who embodies traditional ideals of modesty as a wife and mother. Through biting satire and clever symbolism, this engraving highlights both the struggle for women's rights and society's resistance to change during that era. It serves as an important reminder of how gender roles were rigidly defined at the time. Joseph Swain masterfully brings together various elements such as dress, politics, activism, and social commentary within this black-and-white nineteenth-century print. This heritage image partnership offers us an insightful glimpse into history through artistry that continues to resonate today.
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