Tom Paine's Nightly Pest
Original title: Tom Paine's Nightly Pest
kurzbeschreibung
In this 1792 satire by James Gillray, the writer Thomas Paine lies asleep on a bed, haunted by a nightmare. Around him float caps that carry rolls of paper. The print is an etching with aquatint.
Description
Stretched out on a bed, a figure dreams. Above his head hover three white, upside-down caps that hold up paper rolls with texts. Clouds and smoke rising from the dream scene fill the background. At upper left a rooster hangs from a beam, and above it a sign reads 'The torturer's last gasp'. On the right a winged creature looks through a window, while two horned angels rest on the sleeper. Grays and browns dominate the palette, creating a gloomy mood.
Context
The caricature appeared in December 1792, when Thomas Paine was prosecuted in Britain for his pamphlet 'The Rights of Man'. Gillray, one of the leading caricaturists of his day, often aimed his works at political opponents. The image alludes to Paine's alleged blasphemy and his revolutionary ideas, which were seen as a threat in Britain.
Impact
The dark palette and surreal elements produce an oppressive atmosphere that brings the protagonist's nightmare directly before our eyes. The satirical details invite close looking and sharpen the polemical thrust against Paine.
Technique
Etching with aquatint allows fine tonal gradations and a painterly effect. Gillray used this technique to render shadows and the nocturnal atmosphere in detail. The plate measures 29.4 x 36.5 cm, the sheet 35.9 x 47.9 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)