The Journalist, With a View of Auckinleck–or the Land of Stones (Picturesque Beauties of Boswell, Part the First)
Original title: The Journalist, With a View of Auckinleck–or the Land of Stones (Picturesque Beauties of Boswell, Part the First)
kurzbeschreibung
A man in eighteenth-century dress strides forward, clutching a book titled 'Materials for the Life of Sam Johnson, L.L.D.' and a quill labelled 'Journal'. Thomas Rowlandson's 1786 etching sets him against a rocky landscape with a castle, while a poem in a text box below echoes the title. The print belongs to the series 'Picturesque Beauties of Boswell'.
Description
The figure's mid-stride pose, with book and quill in hand, immediately draws the eye. His attire – a cap and a collared shirt – places him in the 18th century. Behind him rise crags and a castle, suggesting a wild setting. A poem in the text box at the bottom picks up the title. The lines are clear and richly detailed.
Context
Created on 15 May 1786, this etching is part of 'Picturesque Beauties of Boswell', a series that satirises James Boswell's biography of Samuel Johnson. Rowlandson, known for his caricatures, here pokes fun at Boswell's journalistic efforts. The series was published in London by Samuel William Fores, a well-known publisher of satires.
Impact
First, the viewer notices the figure's movement, as if he might step out of the frame. The contrast between intellectual pursuit and the rough, stony landscape creates an ironic tension. The detailed execution invites us to uncover the satirical allusions to Boswell's work. The style feels precise and humorous at once.
Technique
This is an etching on paper, an intaglio process: the drawing is scratched into a wax layer on a copper plate and then etched. The plate measures 25.8 × 27.7 cm; the sheet 26.9 × 29.1 cm. Rowlandson's characteristic clear line, with fine strokes, produces detail and shading.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)