Object Image

Hiring a Servant

A man and his wife sit at a small round breakfast-table and address a young woman who stands at right, before an open door. The wife surprisedly asks, "What Situation in my Family woud you wish to undertake Young Woman." She answers, "Ma'am I should like to be under Your Man Cook by Way of Improvement." The man exclaims: "What's that you say I'll be D—nd If you shall be under my Man Cook or any other man in my house." The cook, outside the open door at right, laughs.

Credit: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959

1811
Hand-colored etching
23.5 x 32.8cm
59.533.1939
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection