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A Recruiting Party, 1797 (etching)
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A Recruiting Party, 1797 (etching)
5920300 A A Recruiting PartyA, 1797 (etching) by Cruikshank, Isaac (1756-1811) (after); National Army Museum, London; (add.info.: A A Recruiting PartyA, 1797.
Coloured etching by Isaac Cruikshank after C Woodward, published by Allen and West, 15 Paternoster Row, London, 18 February 1797.
The recruiting officer holds up a purse to the envy and amazement of some country bumpkins. Recruiting parties were a common sight in villages and at country fairs. Officers would persuade men to enlist with misleading tales of the glamour of army life, and the offer of a A bountyA. This was a large sum of money, supposedly paid to the new recruit when he enlisted. In fact most of it disappeared in various A deductionsA and the recruit was lucky to see any of it.); eNational Army Museum; English, out of copyright
Media ID 22567966
© National Army Museum / Bridgeman Images
Civilian Finance Recruit Recruiting Recruitment
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this etching titled "A Recruiting Party, 1797" artist Isaac Cruikshank takes us back to a time when recruiting parties were a common sight in villages and country fairs. The scene depicts a group of country bumpkins, their faces filled with envy and amazement, as they witness the recruiting officer holding up a purse. This officer is skilled in the art of persuasion, using misleading tales of army life's glamour and the promise of a generous bounty to entice men into enlisting. Published by Allen and West in London on February 18th, 1797, this colored etching beautifully captures the social dynamics surrounding recruitment during that era. While the offer of money was enticing for many young men seeking financial stability or adventure, it often turned out to be an illusion. Most recruits never saw much of their promised bounty due to various deductions. Through his caricature-like style, Cruikshank sheds light on the manipulation tactics employed by recruiters at that time. This artwork serves as both a historical record and commentary on society's vulnerability when faced with promises of wealth and glory. Now housed at the National Army Museum in London, this print offers viewers an opportunity to reflect on how recruitment practices have evolved over time while reminding us that appearances can be deceiving – even within works of art themselves.
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