George Cruikshank

Happy Birthday George Cruikshank!! English caricaturist, born in London in 1792, Cruikshank began as an apprentice to his father. His association with friend Charles Dickenson helped further his career in book illustration. He illustrated Oliver Twist, among others and was an actor in the amateur theater belonging to Dickens. After controversy surrounding the authorship of Oliver Twist (Cruikshank claimed to have played a role in the writing) Dickens and he fell out of favor. His career turned to political stance on drinking (he was a staunch non-drinker) and he did less and less book illustration. The illustration below shows orphan Oliver in the familiar scene asking for more food…”I want some more, sir”. It has been observed that Cruikshank did not create beautiful women, nor did his children look like children, but rather small adults, with adult-like features on shorter bodies. The book was first published in monthly installments, beginning in 1837.