J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

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Thursday, January 17, 2013

I Can Haz Mezzotints

Two Nerdy History Girls alerted me to this engraving by James McArdell after the artist Philippe Mercier, which the Yale Center for British Art estimates to have been published in Britain in 1756.

Its caption is “Love Me, Love My Cat.”

Which shows that people were forcing their friends to look at pictures of cats long before the internet. We’ve just gotten more sophisticated at it.

7 comments:

T. Frantz said...

Great title J.L. Definitely made me chuckle.

Anonymous said...

Or less sophisticated.

John L Smith Jr said...

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

GREAT OBSERVATION & SUMMARY, Mr. Bell! Thank you!

pilgrimchick said...

So very true. On several points.

Don Carleton (Jr.) said...

To quote Robert Darnton's famous "Great Cat Massacre" essay "Finally, the power of cats was concentrated on the most intimate aspect of domestic life: sex." There's the key to this print, I think!

J. L. Bell said...

Yes, that tail is pointing somewhere important. But any print of a pretty girl gets into that realm.

cinnamonblue said...

Hey! Enjoy your blog but I just happen to also be a cat lover. I second the caption that was published with the print:-)