Our latest “Document of the Week” was chosen by our Editorial Assistant, Chloe Haney. It is a series of illustrations from The Illustrated London News (ILN) titled “The Husband Beater (Umbella Plagosa)”, published on 7 July 1888.
Founded in 1842 by Herbert Ingram, the ILN published articles and illustrations on an array of topics during its more than 150 year run. “The Husband Beater” illustrations are among the newspaper’s more humorous pieces. They depict a woman modelling various ways of carrying an umbrella, each accompanied by a witty commentary on her poses.
This commentary draws heavily on gender roles to convey its humour, with a particular reliance on the role of masculinity in the military. Bernard Partridge, the illustrator, exploits the fact that the umbrella resembles a gun or sword in order to compare the woman to, among other things, “a Bengal lancer”, “a Dragoon”, and a “Rifle-man”.
At the time, the idea of a woman occupying masculine military roles was inherently comical, as women were seen as biologically devoid of the requisite traits, such as strength, stoicism, and bravery. This concept is enhanced by the feminine clothing that the woman wears in the illustrations, which makes her femininity starkly visible in order to highlight the absurdity of her resemblance to masculine military positions.
In the final line of the piece, the gender-based humour shifts from a focus on gender roles to one of gender difference. It concludes that the woman should just “rid [herself] of all responsibility” by making a man hold the umbrella for her, which will make him “look an unutterable fool”. It is then quipped that this is “always a desirable achievement”. This conclusion relies on the assumption of essential difference between men and women, as well as women’s subservient position in society, to draw on women’s supposed desire to humiliate men. The casual, jovial delivery of this last line highlights that the illustration’s target audience is women. Despite using the understanding that women cannot embody the ideals of military masculinity as a basis for its humour, the joke is presented not as against or about women, but as a joke for women.
Where to find this document
This illustration is from our new collection, The Illustrated London News, 1842–2003. This comprehensive resource covers over 150 years, facilitating examination of an almost endless variety of historical events, concepts, and themes, British and otherwise. The extensive back catalogues of the ILN’s nine so-called “sister” titles are also available to explore on BOA’s digital archive. Visit the collection page to learn more.