The Bachelor 1787

"The Bachelor" (1787) by Samuel Alken is a satirical hand-colored etching that humorously depicts the downsides of bachelorhood. The image shows a man, likely a wealthy bachelor, being attended to by a woman while he sits in his armchair, a dog by his side. The scene, filled with details including a chamber pot and a fireplace, alludes to the slovenly and solitary life of a bachelor, contrasting with the comforts and order of a married man's home. The artist uses exaggeration and caricature to emphasize the absurdity of the bachelor's situation, providing a humorous commentary on social expectations of the time.