Fresh Cod: A Color Etching

George Belcher

The English Illustrator and Satirist Begins a Series of Character Etchings

WITH the possible exception of Forain (the redoubtable French satirist, now entering his seventies, in Paris), George Belcher probably ranks to-day as the ablest of living black and white delineators. His humor is unfailing, his knowledge of types incredible, his draughtsmanship never faltering. But most of all is he entitled to praise because of the admirable mixture in his types, of satire and sympathy, keenness and kindness. His tongue is always in his cheek, but at the same moment his heart seems to go out in love to the characters he portrays. Without him Punch and The Taller would indeed be in a bad way. This is the first of a series of etchings by him called The Street Merchants of London. The etchings are about the size of this reproduction and are delicately colored. Orders for the series may be sent to the artist, 6 William Street, Knightsbridge, London, W. The edition is limited to one hundred impressions from each plate. The masterpiece above is reproduced here for the first time. The next in the series will be Cat's Meat, Ice Creams and Whelks.