Dotage

Art Historical Context

Created by British artist Thomas Rowlandson in collaboration with T. Smith, *Dotage* is a colored stippled etching and aquatint dated April 20, 1790. Rowlandson was renowned for his lively caricatures that captured the quirks and follies of Georgian society. The medium combines etching for fine lines with aquatint and stippling to produce soft tonal effects and delicate color, allowing prints like this to be widely distributed and enjoyed by a broad audience. The title *Dotage* hints at themes of aging and human folly, a favorite subject for Rowlandson’s satirical eye. In an era when caricature flourished as both entertainment and social commentary, such works often poked gentle fun at romantic misadventures, class pretensions, or the passage of time. The presence of both men and women in the composition suggests a lighthearted scene exploring relationships across generations. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this sheet (measuring roughly 10 13/16 by 8 3/8 inches) exemplifies the vibrant print culture of late-eighteenth-century Britain. Its acquisition through the Elisha Whittelsey Fund underscores the lasting appeal of Rowlandson’s witty observations.

About the Artist

Thomas Rowlandson|T. Smith · 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...