Seven studies on hound 1794

In 1794, George Morland created these seven studies on hound using pen and ink, combined with watercolor washes, on paper. This wasn’t an industrial process of course, but neither was it high art in the conventional sense. Morland was generating studies that could be put to use elsewhere. Consider the easy portability of paper, and the relatively low cost of pen, ink, and watercolor. These were economical materials for the production of images. The artist rapidly captured the dogs in various poses, revealing the animal's musculature, coat markings and expressive features, and the textural contrasts between fur and skin. Morland’s skilled hand brings the hounds to life with just a few strokes. Likely, these studies would serve as the basis for a more lucrative painting, or perhaps be sold to a printmaker. So in the end, even an artwork as apparently simple as this one reflects the economic realities of its time. It invites us to look beyond the image itself and consider the broader context of artistic production and consumption in late 18th-century England.