Going Sick to the Rear
Original title: Going Sick to the Rear
kurzbeschreibung
Thomas Rowlandson drew 'Going Sick to the Rear' around 1815 in pen and purple and brown ink. A peasant harnesses two oxen to a cart while a child follows the team.
Description
A peasant in a cap and jacket steers two oxen pulling a cart fitted with a saddle and seat. To the right, a small child runs behind. Bushes and plants suggest the setting. The sketch relies on ink strokes in muted purple and brown, varying in strength; light stays flat, without strong shadows.
Context
By 1815 Rowlandson was known for his satirical portrayals of English daily life. This sheet belongs to a series of caricatures that combine military subjects with ordinary people's lives. The title borrows a military phrase for retreating from the front and applies it to a rural motif.
Impact
The loose, sketchy hand gives the sheet immediacy. Muted tones and a simple layout lend the view a calm, almost cheerful mood characteristic of Rowlandson.
Technique
Pen and purple and brown ink on paper yield varied stroke widths and colour nuances. This mix creates a nuanced surface typical of Rowlandson's drawing style. The method allows quick, expressive lines that emphasise the movement of people and animals.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)