The Beau Monde: Our modern ladies heads are fill'd with Bows

Thomas McLean|William Heath ('Paul Pry')

July 6, 1829 · Hand-colored etching · Drawings and Prints

The Beau Monde: Our modern ladies heads are fill'd with Bows — Thomas McLean|William Heath ('Paul Pry')

This fashion satire makes fun of the huge hats popular in London in 1829, showing a lady whose oversized accessory is decorated not with bows but beaus--many small male figures who sport top hats or plumed military helmets. Three peer over the brim and two reach down imploringly towards the lady whose favors they seek. Around this time, the artist stopped signing his prints with the small figure of Paul Pry and resumed adding his name to the lower margin–hoping to thus discourage counterfeiters who had responded to the popularity of his fashion satires with man imitations.

Artist
Thomas McLean|William Heath ('Paul Pry')
Date
July 6, 1829
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Department
Drawings and Prints
Credit line
Gift of Jill Spalding, 2022