Begrafenisondernemers 1746 - 1795

Richard Purcell made this print called 'The Company of Undertakers' in London, sometime in the mid-18th century. Here, we see a collection of men smoking pipes, some peering over a crenelated wall. This image offers us a window into the visual culture of Georgian England and its satirical traditions. Satire was a popular way to comment on social and political issues and it often targeted specific professions or social groups, and this print is no exception. It depicts the undertakers as a group of self-satisfied, even grotesque figures, perhaps suggesting the artist's critique of their profession. The wigs and pipes act as markers of status and masculinity, while the act of smoking together implies a shared purpose. For more insight into this print, we can consult sources on 18th-century social history, visual culture, and the history of satire, which will deepen our understanding of this image and the culture that produced it.