Artwork
The Bachelor
The Bachelor is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Samuel Alken. It dates from 1786 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Samuel Alken’s hand‑colored etching and aquatint titled *The Bachelor* was produced in 1786. The work presents an interior scene populated by a reclining male figure, a seated companion, a standing woman, and a small dog, all arranged around a modestly furnished room with a fireplace and curtained window.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre lies a man in white garments, his legs concealed by a sheet, suggesting a state of repose. To his left, a second man in a brown coat occupies a chair, pipe poised between his lips, while a woman in a white dress and hat stands behind the couch, contributing to the tableau of domestic leisure.
Technique & Style
Alken combined etching with aquatint, then applied hand‑coloring to achieve tonal variation and subtle hues. This mixed print method allows for delicate line work alongside broader washes of color, characteristic of late‑eighteenth‑century British printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1786, the print reflects Alken’s engagement with genre scenes popular among contemporary audiences. Its survival in collections indicates continued interest in depictions of everyday life during the period, though specific ownership records remain limited.
Context
The composition aligns with the growing interest in domestic interiors and leisurely pursuits that prefigured Romantic sensibilities. Such scenes offered viewers a glimpse into private, genteel spaces, contrasting with the more formal portraiture of earlier decades.
Artist & collection
