JF Ptak Science Books   Quick Post    

There is no good reason to include these images in this blog on the history of science and general ideas–except that they are rather extraordinary, and highly unusual, even in the genres of caricature and grotesque.

The first is the book cover image for Thomas Wright’s A History of Caricature and Grotesque in Literature and Art (published in London by Chatto and Windus in 1873) and is a peculiar rendition of largesse and self-greed.

Another never-seen-it-before image popped up today–this one an illustration for a  swaddling-meat peddler’s trade card, entitled “The three graces of N. K. Fairbank & Co.’s lard – purity,
weight, sweetness”, printed in the late 19th century.  The image cannot be contained by the card’s size (12x8cm):

The floating lard aside, the image is disturbing and heart breaking.  The pig has every indication of kindness and quiet enjoyment, flying a small flag in his gondola of floating fat, being taken away to points probably-known.  The image was found via Bibliodyssey, and the image used is from the collection at the Boston Public Library Print Department.  (Interesting to note that the entry at Boston lists the following:  “Subject: Swine; Corn; Oil & fats; Animals in human situations”).