1789
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Penny Barber is a 1789 ink by Thomas Rowlandson, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a crowded barbershop with exaggerated, comical faces. A woman in a blue apron stands in the middle, holding a tray. Two men sit in chairs—one with a wild beard, the other getting his hair cut. In the background, a sign reads *"The Oldest Shaving Shop in London."* The drawing is loose and sketchy, with lots of scribbly lines and rough shading. The artist used a mix of ink and watercolor to add color, which makes it look lively but unfinished. The scene feels chaotic and funny, like a snapshot of everyday life with a twist. Next, check out etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists like Rowlandson made prints like this.
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.
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