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Leslie Matthew Ward — Vanity Fair: Statesman, No. 141 "A Feminine Philosopher"

Leslie Matthew Ward

Vanity Fair: Statesman, No. 141 "A Feminine Philosopher"

1873

This color lithograph by Leslie Matthew Ward, published in Vanity Fair, depicts a prominent female intellectual of the Victorian era through the magazine's characteristic satirical style. Ward employs vibrant colors and exaggerated portraiture to capture his subject's persona as a "Feminine Philosopher," reflecting both the era's fascination with and ambivalence toward women engaging in serious intellectual pursuits. The work exemplifies the tradition of Vanity Fair's social commentary, using caricature and wit to engage with questions of gender, education, and public life in 19th century Britain.

Medium
color lithograph

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Spotted works by Leslie Matthew Ward

About this work

Leslie Matthew Ward, Vanity Fair: Statesman, No. 141 "A Feminine Philosopher", 1873

This color lithograph by Leslie Matthew Ward, published in Vanity Fair, depicts a prominent female intellectual of the Victorian era through the magazine's characteristic satirical style. Ward employs vibrant colors and exaggerated portraiture to capture his subject's persona as a "Feminine Philosopher," reflecting both the era's fascination with and ambivalence toward women engaging in serious intellectual pursuits. The work exemplifies the tradition of Vanity Fair's social commentary, using caricature and wit to engage with questions of gender, education, and public life in 19th century Britain.

Medium
color lithograph
Year
1873
Seen at
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Related themes

Witty humor, 19th Century, Feminine philosophy, Caricature, British Artist, Vanity Fair illustration, Political Satire, Portrait, Victorian Era, Chromolithography

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Collected by

Cleveland Museum of Art