Going Out to Dinner 1827

Ego created "Going Out to Dinner" in 1827 using etching and aquatint. It’s a British satirical print that comments on the fashions and social rituals of the time. The exaggerated figure, with his towering collar and pinched waist, embodies the excesses of Regency-era dandyism. Note how his affected stride and the title, which includes the qualification "Or Rather Later Than Otherwise", hint at a life of leisure and perhaps a touch of debauchery. The print cleverly uses visual codes – the man's attire, his posture, even the late hour – to critique the upper classes. To fully understand this work, you need to look at the broader social history of the period. Consider the rise of consumer culture, the rigid class structure, and the performative aspects of social life. Prints like this one played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and challenging social norms. The libraries and archives of London are full of similar works, and the historian's task is to immerse themselves in them.