The Angry Farmer 1790

George Morland's print, "The Angry Farmer", depicts an incident in the countryside, somewhere in England, around the turn of the 19th century. It's a hand-colored print that would have been purchased and displayed in middle-class homes. The print captures a moment of social tension. We see a farmer, whip in hand, confronting children who appear to have damaged his property. Two of the children cower before him, while others look on from a safe distance. The image speaks to anxieties about childhood, property rights and rural life during a time of significant social and economic change. The composition draws upon established visual codes of class and power. The farmer is positioned as a figure of authority, while the children are vulnerable and contrite. But it is not a simple morality tale, the image hints at underlying tensions and the ambiguities of rural life. To truly understand the image, we can explore period literature, legal documents, and agricultural records. These resources will help us to better understand the complex social and institutional context of the artwork.