Smuggling Out, or Starting for Gretna Green 1798

Curator: This watercolour print is titled "Smuggling Out, or Starting for Gretna Green," created around 1798 by Heinrich Joseph Schutz. It's currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Editor: It has a charming naivete to it! The composition is certainly unusual, almost stage-like, with that vertical emphasis and constrained space. And the artist contrasts a gloomy church and sky in the distance with an elaborate façade on the right. Curator: "Starting for Gretna Green" references a common practice of eloping to Scotland, where marriage laws were more lenient. Gretna Green was the first village over the Scottish border. The print reflects the societal pressures and romantic rebellions of the late 18th century. The rise of romanticism and individual freedom also contributed to the rise of “irregular” marriages that we are witnessing in the picture. Editor: The building on the right, "Young Ladies Boarding and Education", creates a direct, satirical critique. See how Schutz uses color? The vibrant reds of the soldier's uniform jump out, drawing our eyes right to him, in stark contrast to the softer, muted tones elsewhere. That visual tension is so crucial. The woman's dress appears as starkly vertical; it mimics the pillar. Curator: This also says something about gender relations and social status at that time. Women in such academies were under constant supervision; running away could be an act of empowerment, and the picture provides a window into understanding how the upper classes sought to govern sexual partnerships. Editor: Look, too, at the texture implied in those drapes the girl is using to lower herself. I wonder, is there a play of light on the cloth meant to symbolize virtue, innocence, and flight? It contrasts beautifully with the rigid lines of the architecture. Curator: I think the choice to portray this as a caricature makes it more accessible and highlights the absurdity and societal pressures surrounding marriage at the time. And don't you love how even the church seems to “look down” at what's transpiring? Editor: This examination definitely reminds us to consider the complexities involved in elopement, its artistic execution, and its enduring cultural resonance! Curator: Yes! Studying “Smuggling Out, or Starting for Gretna Green” can definitely enrich our grasp on social customs during this period!