Doctor Syntax Drawing After Nature, from The Tour of Doctor Syntax c. 1812

Curator: Let’s consider "Doctor Syntax Drawing After Nature" by Thomas Rowlandson, circa 1812, housed here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: What strikes me immediately is how the scene, though set outdoors, feels incredibly contained. The artist uses a restricted palette. Despite the varied animal life, everything seems static and poised. Curator: Indeed. Rowlandson was a master of social satire, deeply engaged in the cultural trends of his time. "Doctor Syntax" wasn’t just a singular artwork; it was initially a series of illustrated books critiquing the picturesque movement. The "Doctor" was this blundering clergyman with artistic aspirations. Editor: The lines in this watercolor and etching combination are deceptively simple. See how a few strokes capture the distinct expressions of both the man and the animals. But is this art for art's sake? Curator: Certainly not. The popularity of such prints shows a burgeoning middle class keen on mocking the elite's artistic pretensions and countryside affectations. Here you have the ‘Doctor’ entirely surrounded by animals, he is drawing “after nature,” of course, yet removed from real, working interaction. Editor: I note the Romantic aesthetic with those towering trees and vast skies. Though Romantic, the colors feel muted, especially compared to what the later Impressionists achieved. It does have some nice touches of dynamism, particularly in the animals as they vie for space with Doctor Syntax. Curator: Absolutely, these were mass-produced images consumed and disseminated widely. What may appear to us as simply an aesthetic endeavor carried political undertones, questioning authority and mocking those striving to attain culture. Editor: A final observation would be that the humor has staying power; even without the cultural context, there's an immediate relatability in the flawed pursuit of artistry amid distractions. Curator: Exactly. Rowlandson's "Doctor Syntax" series offered pointed commentary on class, aesthetics, and the burgeoning art market, offering invaluable insight into England’s sociocultural milieu.