Hard times, or, O! Dear what will become of us, O! Dear what shall we do?!!!

A parade of depressed tradesmen and professionals carry banners and emblems of their works as they march across this sheet. The rag-tag parade is led by group of "Poor Gardners" carrying a stake topped with a carrot and a cabbage. Following them, a group of "Poor Apothecaries" carries their petition topped by a skull, a mortar and a pestle. Next, a group of out-of-work artists are followed by out-of-work poets. Among the artists, Cruikshank has included his own self-portrait, designated by a plaque at his feet inscribed, "Poor Shank's fecit." Napoleon, led by a grinning devil, is centered in the middle of the parade; at the top of his stake he carries the attributes of his reign and the young king of Rome. A band of prostitutes carrying a sign that reads "Poor Dollies!" and a group of "Jolly Undertakers" take up the rear of the procession. A parade of depressed tradesmen and professionals carry banners and emblems of their works as they march across this sheet. The rag-tag parade is led by group of "Poor Gardners" carrying a stake topped with a carrot and a cabbage. Following them, a group of "Poor Apothecaries" carries their petition topped by a skull, a mortar and a pestle. Next, a group of out-of-work artists are followed by out-of-work poets. Among the artists, Cruikshank has included his own self-portrait, designated by a plaque at his feet inscribed, "Poor Shank's fecit." Napoleon, led by a grinning devil, is centered in the middle of the parade; at the top of his stake he carries the attributes of his reign and the young king of Rome. A band of prostitutes carrying a sign that reads "Poor Dollies!" and a group of "Jolly Undertakers" take up the rear of the procession. Published by Thomas Tegg, 1814-02-10. British Museum, BM 12185. Most likely published in one of Tegg's folios. Mary George describes this parade in its relation to London life and notes that the sheet was 'a subject inspired by the hard frost (It was customary for unemployed work--people to perambulate the streets with the tools of their trade, asking for alms, watermen with a boat, gardeners with spades, & c.)' Caption: Pubd Feby 10th 1814 by T. Tegg Cheapside London Banner(s): The Humble Petetion of the Poor Apothecaries--Sheweth that they are all Starving!! Plate Mark: 311 Labels: "Poor Gardeners!", "Poor Apothecaries!!," "Poor Artists!," "Poor Poets," Poor Boney!!," "Poor Dolley's!!!," "Jolly Undertakers."