The artwork titled “Kiss me quick” was crafted by Currier and Ives in 1840. Classified under the Romanticism art movement, it exemplifies the genre of caricature. The characters depicted in the artwork include a central couple engaged in a kiss, with the scene capturing an intimate moment against a pastoral backdrop. A gentleman, dressed in formal attire including a hat, bow tie, and dark coat, leans in to kiss a woman adorned in a corseted dress, shawl, and bonnet. The humorous aspect of the caricature is highlighted by the presence of two children, each pulling at the woman’s dress while holding hats over their faces. The entire composition is set beneath a canopy of trees, adding a serene and idyllic character to the satirical romantic scene.
A caption at the bottom humorously notes the woman’s frustration with the children’s hats: “Children: this is the third time within an hour that I have placed your hats properly upon your heads… There!!” The dual focus on humor and affection makes it a charming representation of 19th-century social satires.