{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O181208"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O181208/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EJ7526/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EJ7526/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EJ7526","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH6296","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O181208/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O181208","accessionNumber":"S.1-2009","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Fairground showman at a 'freak show' booth","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"This 19th century engraving features a fairground showman and a clown enticing an audience to climb the steps to enter a freak show, pointing at one of the two painted canvases that advertise a fat woman and a giant. Before the technology for printing large coloured posters was developed, images painted on cloth or wooden panels were used for local publicity, but couldn't be mass-produced. \r\n\r\nFreak shows were a popular feature of fairgrounds and circuses in the 19th century. 'Exhibits' would include people who could perform unusual physical feats, such as contortionists, or people with remarkable physical appearance such as conjoined twins, dwarves, extremely corpulent, thin, tall, or unusually hairy people. Even people from other continents were exhibited because they fascinated people in the 19th century and earlier.  The majority of people had very limited experience of the world; they didn't travel abroad, and didn't know what other races looked like. Exotic or unusual animals were also popular exhibits, such as performing fleas, horses who could apparently count, or 'Learned Pigs' who were said to be able to read and write. Another canvas in the background advertises a lion, another frequent exhibit in 19th century menageries in towns and on tour.","physicalDescription":"Irregularly cut printed etching on paper showing a barker on the steps of his fairground fit-up, enticing people into a 'Freak Show', pointing with a baton at a painted canvas of a fat lady on the left of the entrance, through which also peers a clown who is also pointing at the image of the lady.  To the right of the entrance is a painted canvas of a giant, with the legend: '14 Feet High Alive'. Various passers-by and tradesmen are at the foot of the steps, and a young urchin is climbing the steps.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"printed paper","categories":[{"text":"Advertising","id":"THES49001"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Fairs","id":"THES271613"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2010EJ7526","2006AH6296"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES356631"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}],[{"text":"lithograph","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.54-2012","id":"O1243693"},"association":"Object"}],"creditLine":"Gabrielle Enthoven Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"left side","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"right side","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"approximately","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"In the 19th and 20th centuries, showmen and impresarios in Europe and the United States exhibited people and animals whose appearances or talents they deemed spectacular as 'freaks'. They engaged people for their unique talents and abilities as well as their appearances, exploiting medical conditions, physical traits, and racialised characteristics. These skills and features were sensationalised in marketing to attract audiences, objectifying performers and perpetuating negative stereotypes for financial gain.\r\n\r\nThis type of exhibition was often found in fairgrounds, exhibition halls, zoological gardens and circuses alongside traditional performance, science and art displays. It was described as a ‘sideshow’ or ‘freak show’. \r\n\r\nThe term ‘freak’ has been reclaimed in recent years by groups who choose to celebrate their perceived differences.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Illustration of a fairground fit-up of a Freak Show. 19th century. Lithograph.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"PeoplePlay UK number","id":"THES57603"},"number":"PPUK 649"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-28","recordCreationDate":"2009-01-02","availableToBook":true}}