Artwork
A Bawd on Her Last Legs
A Bawd on Her Last Legs is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Rowlandson. It dates from 1784 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:in plate, in image, at lower left: T Rowlandson / 1784; in plate, below image, at center: A BAWD ON HER LAST LEGS. / Pub.d 1.st June 1785 by E. Jackson No. 14 Marybone Street Golden Sq.r
About this work
Overview
A Bawd on Her Last Legs is a 1784 print by Thomas Rowlandson, combining etching, aquatint, and lift-ground aquatint on laid paper. Characteristic of Rowlandson's work, it employs satire to comment on Georgian-era society.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a somber scene of three women, with one lying on a chair and the others attending to her. The image conveys concern and solemnity, likely satirizing human vulnerability or moral decline, though the exact target of the satire is not explicitly clear.
Technique & Style
Rowlandson utilized a combination of etching and aquatint techniques to achieve textured, detailed imagery. The effective use of shading and lighting creates depth and dimensionality, enhancing the overall visual impact.
History & Provenance
Created in 1784, the work aligns with Rowlandson's period output of sharp social and political satires. Provenance details are not provided in the available information.
Context
This print reflects the broader caricature tradition of its time, sharing thematic and stylistic elements with fellow caricaturists of the Georgian era. It precedes the Romanticism movement, which explored similar themes of human emotion and society.
Legacy
A Bawd on Her Last Legs contributes to Rowlandson's legacy as a prominent social commentator of his era. Its themes and techniques continue to offer insights into late 18th-century British society and the caricature genre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Rowlandson (; 13 July 1757 – 21 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation.
