The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-Man, or Tarring & Feathering Possibly 1774

This satirical print by Philip Dawe, possibly dated 1774, depicts a scene of political unrest during the American Revolution. Entitled "The Bostonian's Paying the Excise-Man, or Tarring & Feathering," the print shows a group of colonists violently punishing a tax collector, symbolizing the growing discontent with British rule and the enforcement of unpopular taxes. The scene, set beneath the "Liberty Tree," evokes the anger and defiance of the American people. Dawe's print offers a glimpse into the turbulent social and political landscape of pre-Revolutionary Boston, highlighting the anxieties and tensions leading to the outbreak of war.