A Militia Meeting c. 1799

Editor: This is "A Militia Meeting," a watercolor drawing and print from around 1799 by Thomas Rowlandson. It has a chaotic and almost farcical energy. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: Intriguing observation. Initially, note how Rowlandson uses line to delineate form. Notice how the pen strokes are thick and rather aggressive. What effect do you believe this has? Editor: It adds to that sense of…disorder. Nothing feels refined. Curator: Precisely. The watercolor washes further enhance this effect. See how they are uneven and seemingly applied without meticulous care? It steers clear of photorealism; do you feel there's a relationship between colour and form here? Editor: I think the sketchiness blurs the clarity, especially the details within the scroll, therefore intensifying the sense of comedy at the possible meaning of it. Curator: Very good. Consider the composition as a whole: the figures are crammed together in a confined space, lacking traditional perspective. Where does this crowded effect guide the eye, in your view? Editor: It forces you to focus on their expressions and postures, maybe even to examine the subtle interactions, to try to infer any relationships between the individuals that may tell the story. Curator: An astute inference. Notice how Rowlandson employs visual disequilibrium to undermine authority and celebrate the grotesque. Consider the piece in terms of pictorial structure alone. What might the open window signify at the very edge of the image? Editor: Hmmm. Escape from whatever absurdity is going on inside? The formal elements seem to emphasize that idea. It gives another facet to its apparent chaos! Curator: Indeed. By analyzing these intrinsic components, we find layers beyond mere representation. Thank you for a stimulating view.