Humbugging, or Raising the Devil
Original title: Humbugging, or Raising the Devil
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many caricatures of the period that focus on the political issues of the day, Thomas Rowlandson's 1800 etching Humbugging, or Raising the Devil blends occult conjuring with biting satire. The hand-colored sheet, executed as an etching with aquatint, presents a cast of caricatured figures and likely mocks superstitious practices.
Description
A figure dressed in white with a hat dominates the center, holding a staff or arrow aloft. To the left, two figures recoil in alarm: a man in a pink suit and a woman with a green headscarf. A cat crouches on a table behind them, while a horned figure with a sword appears on the left. Above, a cloud descends, releasing a dragon-like creature. Scattered on the ground are various objects, including an animal's head.
Context
Rowlandson published the print in London on March 12, 1800, at a time when satirical prints enjoyed great popularity with the public. The caricature engages with contemporary debates about superstition and charlatanism, which the Enlightenment sharply criticized. The artist often used aquatint to achieve soft tonal gradations and colored the impressions by hand afterward.
Impact
The exaggerated faces and lively poses give the sheet a comic, almost grotesque air. Strong colors and the contrast between light and dark areas draw attention to the central action and heighten the theatrical mood.
Technique
In this work, Rowlandson combined etching with aquatint, producing finely graded tones. While aquatint creates soft, broad areas of shadow, the etched lines define contours and details precisely. The colors were applied manually after printing, so each impression has its own character.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)