The Beau Monde: Our modern ladies heads are fill'd with Bows
William Heath ('Paul Pry') British
Publisher Thomas McLean British
Not on view
This fashion satire makes fun of the huge hats popular in London in 1829, showing a lady whose oversized accessory is decorated not with bows but beaus--many small male figures who sport top hats or plumed military helmets. Three peer over the brim and two reach down imploringly towards the lady whose favors they seek. Around this time, the artist stopped signing his prints with the small figure of Paul Pry and resumed adding his name to the lower margin–hoping to thus discourage counterfeiters who had responded to the popularity of his fashion satires with man imitations.
