The Disappointed Epicures 1787

Thomas Rowlandson crafted this watercolor, depicting a scene of culinary chaos and disappointment. Observe the central table around which the figures are gathered. In the history of art, the table symbolizes communion, shared experiences, and social bonds. Yet here, it’s a stage for disarray. The disappointed reactions recall the motif of lamentation. One might think of religious scenes like the Lamentation of Christ, where grief and despair are laid bare. Rowlandson cleverly inverts this trope. Instead of spiritual mourning, we witness a lamentation over spoiled food and unmet gastronomic expectations. Consider the figure fleeing the room. He embodies the emotional distress of dashed hopes. His dramatic exit mirrors the gestures of figures fleeing chaotic scenes in classical art. The scene becomes a theater of the absurd, reflecting a deep-seated human capacity for emotional response, even in the face of trivial matters. Thus, Rowlandson captures a timeless aspect of human nature. This tableau reminds us of our vulnerabilities and emotional investments in life's simple pleasures.