Tea, from Boswell's Tour of the Hebrides 1786

"Tea," a satirical etching by Thomas Rowlandson, depicts a scene from James Boswell's 1786 "Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides." The artwork captures a comical moment during Boswell's travels with Samuel Johnson, as the two men partake in a tea-drinking ritual with a woman and another gentleman. Rowlandson's signature use of exaggerated features and caricatures emphasizes the absurdity of the scene, offering a humorous commentary on social interactions and the complexities of human relationships. The print, housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies Rowlandson's mastery of social satire, leaving a lasting impact on the artistic representation of 18th-century English society.