Mr. Punch in the Arts: “Joy & Grief,” Photolithograph Prints

Joy and Grief
The Victoria & Albert Museum
From the George Speaight Punch and Judy Collection

These photolithograph prints date to the late Nineteenth Century and are the work of an unknown artist. Here, we see a girl in traditional Dutch dress. In her arms, she holds a Mr. Punch. In one image she looks quite happy. In the next, entitled, “Grief,” she looks quite the opposite.

I can’t quite tell what she’s holding in her hand, but whatever it is, it seems to have bothered her. Perhaps I’ve seen too many Punch & Judy shows, but I like to think she’s sad because of something Mr. Punch did. He looks very pleased with himself…as he should be.