Six Stages of Mending a Face, Dedicated with respect to the Right Hon-ble. Lady Archer
Original title: Six Stages of Mending a Face, Dedicated with respect to the Right Hon-ble. Lady Archer
kurzbeschreibung
In six scenes from 1792, Thomas Rowlandson demonstrates how a woman prepares her face with cosmetics. This hand-colored etching belongs to the tradition of socially critical caricature of the late eighteenth century.
Description
Applying rouge, redrawing eyebrows, emphasizing lips, refining the complexion — these and other makeup steps appear on the sheet in six separate scenes. The figures are stylized and wear clothing of around 1792. Pastel tones dominate the color scheme, and the light falls evenly. The tone is humorous and caricatural.
Context
Rowlandson etched the sheet on May 29, 1792, at a time when caricatures met with great resonance in England. The dedication to Lady Archer, a well-known figure in London society, can be read as a satirical jab at her beauty regimen. The work belongs to a series of socially critical prints that poke fun at the vanities of the upper class.
Impact
Because the makeup procedure is humorously exaggerated, a comic effect arises that invites a smile. The division into six stages gives the sheet something didactic and makes the absurdity of the beauty cult all the more evident.
Technique
An etching that was subsequently hand-colored is present here. Such techniques were common in the eighteenth century to individualize prints and enhance their effect. Finely worked lines and pastel watercolor tones characterize Rowlandson's style.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)