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Caricature
Cooke, George - Enlarge image
Caricature
- Place of origin:
Hanley, England (made)
- Date:
August 1904 (drawn)
- Artist/Maker:
Cooke, George (artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
Pen and ink and wash on paper
- Museum number:
S.392:10-2002
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This caricature is of the contortionist George Antill, who performed at the Grand Theatre of Varieties, Hanley, during the week of 15 August 1904. He was billed as ‘Comedian. The Evening Shadow’. It is one of the many superb caricatures of Edwardian music hall performers that were drawn by the artist George Cooke when he was based at the Grand Theatre. He compiled them in a series of albums.
Antill never became a top-billing performer. Like his contemporary performer Carlton, ‘the human hairpin’, he exaggerated his long limbs with a tight-fitting costume. He made his appearance even more bizarre and comical with exaggerated make-up. He was on the same bill as the comedy acrobats Dezmonti & Mora, who were also drawn by Cooke.
