Not currently on display at the V&A

Cruikshank, the Fool of the Family

Poster
ca.1909 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Poster advertising Cruikshank, 'The Fool of the Family', ca.1909.

Cruikshank was Alfred Cruikshank (1875-1956), a music hall entertainer who also billed himself as 'Comical Cruikshank'. His 'trademark' makeup of white face, painted smille and double dots over the nose can be seen in this poster. He performed songs, played the banjo and cello, and amused audiences with comic patter.

The poster is typical of the advertising used by music hall performers in the early 20th century who needed to have their own posters printed. Developments in printing techniques, particularly of colour lithography, allowed artistes to use posters which featured their image and a catchy description. Slips of paper, printed with the name of the theatre and the dates when the artiste would appear, could be pasted on to the poster.






Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCruikshank, the Fool of the Family (published title)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph
Brief description
Poster advertising Cruikshank, 'The Fool of the Family', ca.1909
Physical description
Poster advertising Cruikshank, 'The Fool of the Family', with a head and shoulders portrait of a smiling white-faced clown, based on a photograph. He wears a maroon jacket with large yellow buttons and a white collar, a maroon and yellow bow tie, and a large maroon and yellow hat. Beneath the image is printed the name 'Cruikshank' in pale green capital letters edged with white, with the phrase 'The Fool of the Family' in white capitals.
Dimensions
  • Height: 75.8cm
  • Width: 55cm
Credit line
Given by James Gardner
Summary
Poster advertising Cruikshank, 'The Fool of the Family', ca.1909.

Cruikshank was Alfred Cruikshank (1875-1956), a music hall entertainer who also billed himself as 'Comical Cruikshank'. His 'trademark' makeup of white face, painted smille and double dots over the nose can be seen in this poster. He performed songs, played the banjo and cello, and amused audiences with comic patter.

The poster is typical of the advertising used by music hall performers in the early 20th century who needed to have their own posters printed. Developments in printing techniques, particularly of colour lithography, allowed artistes to use posters which featured their image and a catchy description. Slips of paper, printed with the name of the theatre and the dates when the artiste would appear, could be pasted on to the poster.




Associated object
S.393:13-2002 (Object)
Collection
Accession number
S.7-1991

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Record createdJanuary 13, 2017
Record URL
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