Changing Horses at a Post House in France c. 1790

Thomas Rowlandson's watercolor, "Changing Horses at a Post House in France" (c. 1790), is a humorous depiction of a chaotic scene at a roadside inn. The lively composition, characterized by exaggerated figures and gestures, captures the energy of travelers changing horses. The inscription "Poste aux Chevaux," visible above the inn's doorway, confirms the setting and subject matter. Rowlandson's signature style of caricature and satire adds to the visual humor of this 18th-century snapshot of travel and social interaction.