Costume of Hogs Norton, How a Man May Shoot His Own Wig, and The Maid of Mim

Art Historical Context

This hand-colored etching from 1809, created through the collaboration of George Murgatroyd Woodward and Thomas Rowlandson, offers a lively glimpse into early nineteenth-century British humor. Rowlandson, a leading figure in the golden age of caricature, often partnered with Woodward to produce witty social commentary. The medium of etching allowed these designs to be printed in large numbers and then individually colored by hand, making sharp visual satire accessible to a broad audience beyond elite collectors. The print’s title—“Costume of Hogs Norton, How a Man May Shoot His Own Wig, and The Maid of Mim”—hints at a series of playful vignettes poking fun at fashion, mishaps, and everyday characters. Tags listing men, women, and dogs suggest scenes that blend human folly with lively animal companions, a common device in Regency-era caricature to heighten comic effect. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the sheet measures just over thirteen by nine inches, a convenient size for display or private amusement. Such works remind us how prints served as both entertainment and subtle social critique during a period of rapid cultural change.