Artwork
Going Out in the Morning
Going Out in the Morning is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Rowlandson. It dates from 1786 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Thomas Rowlandson shows a busy London street in 1786. Men in wigs chat by a shop. A woman carries a basket. A boy plays with a dog. Everyone looks dressed up.
This isn’t a photo. It’s a print made with acid and ink. Aquatint gives soft grey tones. The paper shows its age in spots.
See how the light hits the cobblestones? Like someone left a window open.
Look up Rowlandson, Thomas.
Overview
Thomas Rowlandson’s 1786 print, *Going Out in the Morning*, is a hand‑colored etching combined with aquatint on J. Whatman paper. The image captures a bustling London street scene, populated by men in wigs, a woman with a basket, and a child playing with a dog, all rendered in the artist’s characteristic satirical style.
Subject & Meaning
The scene offers a snapshot of everyday urban life in late‑eighteenth‑century London, emphasizing the fashionable attire of its figures and the lively atmosphere of a street teeming with activity. While the composition appears straightforward, Rowlandson’s inclusion of varied characters hints at his interest in social observation and the subtle humor that underlies ordinary moments.
Technique & Style
Rowlandson employed acid‑etched lines to define the figures and architecture, then applied aquatint to achieve soft, grey tonal washes that suggest depth and light on the cobblestones. Hand‑coloring adds muted hues, while the paper’s natural spotting reveals its age, contributing to the work’s textured visual quality.
History & Provenance
Created during a period when printmaking was a dominant medium for both illustration and satire, the piece reflects Rowlandson’s prolific output for novels, topographical publications, and independent satirical prints. It exemplifies his role as a leading caricaturist of the Georgian era, whose work circulated widely among contemporary audiences.
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.
