A Jessamy
Original title: A Jessamy
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many fashion caricatures of its day, Thomas Rowlandson's "A Jessamy" of 1790 gives over the whole plate to a single figure in period dress, holding a sheet or document. The work was executed as an etching with aquatint and is accompanied by a verse from the Book of Proverbs.
Description
An upright figure stands wearing a tall black headpiece adorned with a feather, a jacket with turned-back sleeves, breeches, striped stockings and shoes. The right hand grips a stick, the left holds a sheet or document, while one hand rests on the hip. Two dark patches appear behind the figure. The title is set at the top, the Proverbs quotation at the bottom.
Context
The print was issued in London on 1 December 1790. Thomas Rowlandson, a British caricaturist and illustrator, is responsible for it. In the eighteenth century a "jessamy" meant a fashionably dressed young man, often regarded as a fop. The appended quotation from Proverbs points to the moral instruction typical of the period.
Impact
The erect posture and accessories such as the cane and feather lend the figure a blend of elegance and irony. The dark patches behind him throw the silhouette into sharp contrast. The overall impression is satirical without being cruel.
Technique
Etching and aquatint work together here: aquatint allows fine gradations of tone. The crisp etched lines outline the figure, while the aquatint contributes soft shading behind it. The sheet is printed on paper and measures 33.4 x 21.7 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)