March c. late 18th century

Robert Dighton created this print titled "March" using etching and watercolor. The composition is divided into distinct planes, the most striking being the figure, centrally placed, viewed in profile, elegantly attired. The eye is drawn to the exterior scene visible through the window, where a windmill and sailboat suggest an openness contrasting with the figure's enclosed environment. Note how the artist uses color to delineate space and mood. The interior, with its muted tones, creates an atmosphere of restrained elegance. In contrast, the brighter, airy colors of the exterior offer a visual escape. Dighton employs line to define form, yet the washes of watercolor soften the overall effect, lending a delicate quality to the scene. This layering of interior and exterior spaces, combined with the subtle use of color and line, creates a visual dialogue about confinement and freedom. The print invites contemplation on the boundaries between our immediate surroundings and the world beyond.