Accomodation Ladder 1811

Curator: Here we have Thomas Rowlandson’s print, "Accomodation Ladder," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a rather direct social commentary. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Oh, the sheer absurdity of it all! It's so deliciously satirical. The scale is delightfully off. That little man in uniform, clinging to the ladder, looks positively desperate! Curator: Note the inscription on the woman's sash, “BUON 74.” This alludes to Napoleon and a British naval ship, suggesting themes of power, ambition, and the social structures of the time. It’s interesting how Rowlandson used printmaking to disseminate these critiques. Editor: It's the ladder that gets me. A rickety thing, promising access, yet so precarious. Is it access to power? To love? Maybe both? It's a charming little fable about climbing. Curator: Indeed, the print’s materiality allowed for mass consumption of these ideas and critiques. Editor: It leaves you wondering who’s really in control and who's just scrambling. And is it worth the climb anyway? Curator: Food for thought indeed. A clever commentary, made accessible through the medium of print. Editor: Absolutely! It’s a gem that keeps on sparkling and provoking.