George Cruikshank (1792-1878)
Hummingbirds, or a Dandy Trio
1835
Etching
9 x 13” (22.86 X 33.02 cm)
Wetmore Print Collection, Connecticut College
FW-0916

In this print, Cruikshank declares dandyism a disease. Dandies are vain gentlemen concerned with fashion, and Cruikshank emasculates the dandies’ vanity with their bulbous, sickly forms. The painting “vacuna” expresses modesty, Cruikshank’s vaccine to dandyism. The “Narcissus” painting depicts the tale of Narcissus: a man drowned by his own vanity, the downfall of dandyism. Mirroring Narcissus is the woodwind-playing dandy, staring admirably in the mirror. Though only one is directly connected to this narcissism, all three dandies are excessively swooning over their lifestyle.