English Curiosity or The Foreigner Stared Out of Countenance
January 1, 1794
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 9 1/8 × 10 7/16 in. (23.2 × 26.5 cm) Plate: 8 3/8 × 9 1/2 in. (21.2 × 24.2 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
59.533.486
Tags
Art Historical Context
**English Curiosity or The Foreigner Stared of Countenance** (1794) is a lively etching by the renowned British caricaturist Thomas Rowland, published by S.W. Fores. about 9 by 10 inches, this captures the sharp wit of late Georgian satire through Rowlandson's signature loose, expressive lines and exaggerated figures. As a master of hand-colored etchings, Rowlandson delighted audiences with humorous commentary on everyday follies, often targeting social pretensions and national quirks. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolutionary Wars, the artwork pokes fun at English xenophobia and i...
About the Artist
Thomas Rowlandson|S. W. Fores · 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...