Man met een pijp en een flesje 1739 - 1792

John Greenwood’s ‘Man with a Pipe and a Bottle’ is a mezzotint, an intaglio printmaking process allowing for rich tonal range and subtle gradations of light and shadow. Made in the late 18th century, this image invites us to consider the social context of leisure and consumption in colonial America. The man’s relaxed posture and the accoutrements of pipe and bottle suggest a moment of respite, but also hint at broader issues of class, commerce, and perhaps even social critique. Is Greenwood offering a commentary on the emerging consumer culture of his time? Or is he simply capturing a familiar scene from everyday life? To understand this image fully, we might delve into the history of tobacco and alcohol consumption in 18th-century America, exploring the ways in which these commodities shaped social interactions and economic systems. Archival research into Greenwood’s life and career, as well as the history of printmaking in colonial America, could further illuminate the cultural significance of this intriguing image.