The Departure
Original title: The Departure
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many contemporary farewell scenes, Thomas Rowlandson's etching "The Departure" of April 29, 1784, relies on caricatural exaggeration: a stout man with a stick sits in the foreground, two women lead a horse, and in the background a uniformed figure points to a sign reading "TO COVENTRY". The print is an early, undescribed state.
Description
The arrangement feels asymmetric and pushes the figures forward. On the left sits a corpulent man, weary or dejected, a stick in his hand. Two women in 18th-century dress steer a horse—one by the reins, the other with an arm around the animal. A uniformed man in the background indicates a sign inscribed "TO COVENTRY". Speech bubbles suggest the figures' utterances; the colouring remains monochrome, the light even, without strong shadows.
Context
Rowlandson, an English artist, became known for his satirical and humorous portrayals of late 18th-century social life. The etching was made in 1784, during a period of political and social upheaval in Britain. The reference to "Coventry" likely alludes to the phrase "to send to Coventry", meaning social ostracism. The work belongs to a series of prints Rowlandson produced for the art market, often with a moralising or comic undertone.
Impact
The exaggerated facial features and grotesque physique of the man create a comic, almost absurd impression. An everyday scene and satirical elements combine so that the viewer smiles while the speech bubbles spark curiosity about the story being told. Clear lines and reduced colouring underline the caricatural character and make the sheet a typical example of English satirical graphic art.
Technique
Rowlandson worked here as an etcher: in this intaglio process, the drawing is etched into a metal plate. The lines appear fine and precise, typical of his style with quick, flowing strokes. The present sheet is an "undescribed early state", an early printing state that has not yet been documented and is therefore of significance for research.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)