Not at Home, or a Disappointed Dinner Hunter
June 13, 1823
Medium
Hand-colored etching
Dimensions
Plate: 14 × 9 15/16 in. (35.5 × 25.3 cm) Sheet: 14 1/2 × 10 3/8 in. (36.8 × 26.3 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
59.533.1784
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This hand-colored etching from 1823 captures the witty social satire popular in early nineteenth-century Britain. Created by Thomas Rowlandson, a leading caricaturist of the Georgian and Regency eras, and published by John Fairburn the print uses exaggerated figures and humorous expressions to poke fun at the rituals of hospitality and social climbing. The title, “Not at Home, or a Disappointed Dinner Hunter,” hints at a familiar scene of the time: a hopeful visitor turned away at the door, perhaps after angling for an invitation to dine. Rowlandson’s lively line work and the vibrant hand-coloring bring energy to the composition, making the print both visually engaging and sharply observational. Such etchings were affordable and widely circulated, allowing middle-class audiences to enjoy commentary on class, manners, and everyday disappointments. Today, the work offers a charming glimpse into Regency-era social dynamics while showcasing the technical charm of hand-colored prints from the period.
About the Artist
John Fairburn|Thomas Rowlandson (British|British) · 1789 |1757 –1840 |1827
British, active 1789–1840|British, London 1757–1827 London