A Man of Feeling c. 1811

Curator: Here we have "A Man of Feeling," a lithograph created around 1811 by Thomas Rowlandson, residing here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: Well, it's certainly...intimate. The style, the exaggerated figures, it feels very satirical. The man, whoever he is, seems almost grotesque in his affection. Curator: Rowlandson was well-known for his caricatures of British society. This print fits neatly into that tradition, reflecting on social and perhaps political power dynamics of the era. The elderly man's exaggerated features alongside the youthful woman he’s embracing offers a visual commentary on status and relationships, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. The image is ripe with symbolic contrast. The obvious imbalance of power, signified by the man holding the young woman so she is angled away from us. His over-sized wig—a symbol of status and profession. Look closely! Rowlandson hints at deeper meanings; the steaming cauldron suggests domesticity—even as it evokes hidden sexuality, perhaps even illicit acts. Curator: You highlight a fascinating aspect, the almost theatrical staging of the scene. Rowlandson creates layers of observation – figures behind him watching through the window – as if suggesting a critique of public versus private behavior during the time. Are we the viewers complicit in the spectacle? The 'book' casually strewn on the floor almost seems as if cast aside, revealing underlying messages about morality of intellectual endeavors that hide sexual activity. Editor: Precisely! The discarded book underscores the theme; we're invited to ponder which 'texts'— social roles, personal relationships—are being subverted here, traded for immediate gratification and feelings. The candle set above the scene near a female statuette further draws parallels between art, passion and virtue. Is the candle symbolic for burning too hot? Or the light shining on such clandestine behavior? Curator: It's interesting that Rowlandson labels him as a man "of feeling." Is he really feeling something profound, or merely acting on base instincts allowed through his elevated station in British society? Editor: It seems both. His claim on her body in an open manner, the witnesses in the background. Even on the paper beneath it the work is described "Pub. by T Tegg. Cheapside" Which is to say this is something being performed on display for everyone; the true message of the image itself. Curator: Thinking of the time, one has to imagine how Rowlandson’s works encouraged public discourse and questioned societal standards. The impact could have been quite significant. Editor: Indeed. These complex symbols and caricatured scenes continue to stimulate contemplation even after all this time. Curator: It really does spark important considerations about gender, age, and agency. Thanks for drawing my attention to the symbolic tension in this complex print.