Rural Sports. Smock Racing Possibly 1811

Editor: This is "Rural Sports. Smock Racing," a print – an etching and engraving – by Thomas Rowlandson, likely from 1811. There is such dynamic energy here. It looks chaotic, almost like a riot! What catches your eye about the visual composition? Curator: The most salient feature of this composition is the strong diagonal created by the mass of figures moving from the upper left to the lower right. Notice how Rowlandson employs line, particularly in the etching, to delineate the frenzied figures. The dynamism is intensified by the contrasting light and shadow, guiding our gaze. Editor: I see the diagonal now, and I can see the light and shadow pushing my eyes that way! How would you describe the lines? Curator: The lines, at times, appear frantic, mimicking the subjects' agitation. However, upon closer inspection, the linear construction uses very simple geometric shapes and structures, to form figures of simple construction. Consider how that plays into the idea of caricature. Does the caricature affect your reading of the lines at all? Editor: Absolutely, it gives a distorted view! That makes the image all the more chaotic and humorous to me. The printmaker’s use of line does construct a visual hierarchy for our eyes to trace through the scene. Curator: Indeed. Further consider the printmaker's employment of cross-hatching technique which enlivens areas of dense shade, lending visual weight, while the strategic deployment of color – the dabs of muted washes – to enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms and spatial recession into the background. Note the distribution of light and shadow to generate depth. Editor: So, it’s really the balance between those different techniques that makes the print so impactful and draws us into the frenzy. I definitely notice details I didn't see before.