Physiognomic Study of the Head of a Man and Two Lions c. 1822

Thomas Rowlandson's "Physiognomic Study of the Head of a Man and Two Lions," created around 1822, is a satirical drawing that uses caricature to comment on human nature. The artwork depicts a man with exaggerated features, flanked by two lions. The man's protruding tongue and wide eyes suggest a state of surprise or alarm, while the lions’ expressions add to the sense of tension. This humorous portrayal was characteristic of Rowlandson's style and likely intended to provoke laughter and thought among viewers.