The Married Man
1786
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1786
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Married Man is a 1786 ink by Samuel Alken, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This scene shows a lively room where a man in a blue coat sits with a dog at his feet. Around him, a woman in a striped dress holds a child, while another woman plays a violin. A man in a red hat leans on a table with a bottle and glass, and a woman in a fancy hat stands nearby. The walls have tall windows and a framed picture of a classical scene. The title *The Married Man* hints this might be about family life, but the mood feels more chaotic than calm. The artist used loose, sketchy lines to show movement and energy. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Alken made prints with needles and acid.
