James Gillray

James Gillray (1756–1815) was a British satirical cartoonist and engraver whose prints helped define political caricature in late Georgian Britain. Trained as an engraver, he became known for sharply observed, often scathing images that lampooned public figures and events during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras. Gillray produced many of his most influential works as hand-colored etchings published in London print shops, reaching a wide audience. His targets included politicians, the monarchy, and social fashions, rendered with energetic linework and inventive visual metaphors. Celebrated for wit and technical skill, he remains a central figure in the history of British graphic satire.