Who painted Butterfly Hunting?

Butterfly Hunting was painted by Thomas Rowlandson in 1806.

Where can I see Butterfly Hunting?

Butterfly Hunting is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Butterfly Hunting?

Butterfly Hunting is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Butterfly Hunting

Thomas Rowlandson , 1806

Butterfly Hunting is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Rowlandson. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Thomas Rowlandson’s 1806 hand‑coloured etching *Butterfly Hunting* presents a brief, lively scene of two boys bent low in grass, each holding a net aimed at a butterfly. The figures are dressed in simple knee‑length breeches and shirts, one with a hat tipped askew, conveying a moment of earnest childhood play rendered in the artist’s characteristic satirical tone.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a youthful pursuit, the boys’ focused expressions suggesting a mock seriousness that mirrors Rowlandson’s broader interest in parodying adult pretensions. By depicting children engaged in a seemingly trivial hunt, the work subtly comments on the earnestness with which society approaches its own pursuits, turning a simple pastime into a gentle critique of self‑importance.

Technique & Style

Executed as an etching and subsequently hand‑coloured, the print combines fine line work with modest washes of colour, a hallmark of Rowlandson’s printmaking. The artist’s skillful balance of caricature and observational detail allows the figures to retain individuality while the surrounding grass and butterfly are rendered with delicate, almost naturalistic touches.

History & Provenance

Created during the later phase of Rowlandson’s career, *Butterfly Hunting* reflects the artist’s continued production of socially observant prints in the early nineteenth century. The work has been held in several public collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it is cited as an example of his satirical approach to everyday scenes.

Artist & collection

Artist

Thomas Rowlandson

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.