A woman withdrawing her foot in outrage from the care of a corn-cutter who has pretensions to be called a chiropodist. Coloured engraving, 1793.

Date:
20 November 1793
Reference:
10973i
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Description

The operator performs the operation that was previously the remit of the corn cutter, but he claims higher professional status for his role and designates himself a "chiropodist". His customer disputes his claim and mocks his pretensions, claiming that a skilled non-professional such as her maid could do the job better. The Oxford English Dictionary has three quotations fropm the 1780s on the renaming of corn-cutters as chiropodists, including "Chiropodist (anglicè corn-cutter)... the absurdity and needless affectation of learning, the coining of new-fangled derivatives on every occasion" (European Magazine VII. 429)

Publication/Creation

London (Fleet Street) : Robt. Sayer & Co., 20 November 1793.

Physical description

1 print : line engraving and etching, with watercolour ; image 16.5 x 22.9 cm

Lettering

The corn doctor. ... Lettering continues: "Madam, ther's not a man of the profession in Europe, that can cut a corn with that ease, delicacy, & safety as myself" "Oh! curse your delicacy- you've touched me to the quick- you have ruined me you fumbling dog- you a chiropedist, old Susan here would have done me better- if you don't immediately decamp, I'll tear all the hair off your shallow pate."

References note

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. VII, London 1942, no. 8409

Reference

Wellcome Collection 10973i

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