The Bonnet-Maker’s Dream. Wood engraving. Punch, the London Charivari. Click on image to enlarge it.
The cartoonist here makes a much gentler criticism criticism of the long hours and low pay of milliners, if it is in fact that. As such this cartoon stands as a stark contrast to Punch’s own Needle Work, Tom Hood’s famous “The Song of the Shirt,” and various paintings of the poverty, long hours, and poor workign conditions of seamstresses. — George P. Landow
Related material about Milliners and Seamstresses
- “The Song of the Shirt” by Thomas Hood (1799-1845)
- "Slaves of the Needle:" The Seamstress in the 1840s
- The Song of the Shirt, painting by Anna Elizabeth Blunden (Mrs. Martino)
- The Song of the Shirt, painting by William Daniels
Last modified 11 June 2020