Pictures of Life and Character

John Leech’s Pictures of Life and Character (1855–1864) is a pioneering Victorian-era comic series from Bradbury, Evans & Co., collecting the artist’s satirical and observational single-panel cartoons across five issues. Originally published in Punch magazine, these illustrations offer a warm, sharply witty chronicle of mid-19th-century British society—from bustling streets to domestic foibles—capturing everyday life with a gentle, humanizing touch. Leech’s work here stands as a foundational influence on the modern comic strip, blending social commentary with an enduring charm that still resonates.