Details
Creator Clay, Edward Williams, 1799-1857, etcher.
Contributor S. Hart & Son, publisher.
Title Life in Philadelphia. "How you like de Waltz, Mr. Lorenzo?" [graphic] / Clay, fecit 1829.
Publisher Philadelphia: Published by S. Hart & Son, No. 65 South Third St
Publisher PA. Philadelphia. 1829
Date [1829]
Physical Description 1 print: hand-colored etching; 20 x 17 cm (8 x 6.25 in.)
Description Racist caricature ridiculing the social pretentions of attendees of an African American dance ball depicting "Mr. Lorenzo" and his woman dance partner hand in hand as they waltz. In the left, Mr. Lorenzo’s woman partner wears a pink, large, oval-shaped headpiece with several feathers, an ankle-length blue and yellow dress with pink trim, puff sleeves and a pink rope belt with tasseled ends, white gloves, white ankle-tied slipper shoes, and jewelry, including earrings and a necklace. She looks toward her dance partner and points her left foot and has her right perpendicular to it. She asks how he likes the waltz. "Mr. Lorenzo," looks down toward her and responds that he believes the waltz is "for de common people." He is attired in white pantaloons, a green coat with tails, white vest, white shirt with turned up collar, white bow tie, white gloves, white stockings, and black slipper shoes. The figures are portrayed with oversized and exaggerated features. Their skin tone is depicted with brown hand coloring.
Notes Title from item.
Date from item.
Inscribed: Plate 13.
Copy right secured.
Contains five lines of dialogue in the vernacular and dialect above the image: How you like de waltz, Mr. Lorenzo? ‘Pon de honour ob a gentleman I tink it vastly indelicate, _ Only fit for de common people!!
S. Hart and Son was a partnership between Sarah and Abraham Hart, Jewish owners of a Philadelphia stationery store who assumed the publishing of the "Life in Philadelphia" series in 1829. She alone reprinted the entire series of 14 prints in 1830.
RVCDC
Description revised 2021.
Access points revised 2021.
Subject African Americans -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American men -- Caricatures and cartoons -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African American women -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
African Americans -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Balls (Parties) -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Conversation.
Middle-class -- Clothing & dress -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Racism in popular culture.
Genre Caricatures -- 1820-1830.
Etchings -- Hand-colored -- 1820-1830.
Printer S. Hart & Son, publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| Life in Philadelphia (Philadelphia Set) [P.9697]
Accession number P.9697