Brothers of the Whip
November 27, 1781
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 8 1/16 × 9 11/16 in. (20.4 × 24.6 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.533.14
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1781, *Brothers of the Whip is an etching that captures the sharp wit of-era satire. Thomas Rowlandson, one of Britain’s leading caricaturists, collaborated here with publisher Hannah Humphrey and printmaker A. Grant to produce this lively scene of men. Rowlandson’s distinctive hand is evident in the fluid lines and exaggerated expressions that were hallmarks of his style, turning everyday social types into humorous commentary. Etching proved an ideal medium for such works, allowing artists to reach wide audiences through affordable prints sold in London shops. The title and focus ...
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|Hannah Humphrey|A. Grant · 1756–1827
Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827) was an English artist and caricaturist whose satirical watercolors and prints captured the social life of Georgian Britain with unparalleled wit and technical mastery. Alongside James Gillray, he is recognized as one of the greatest British graphic artists, and his distinctive flowing line and keen observations have made his work integral to understanding late 18th an...