The Procession, from Boswell's Tour of the Hebrides 1786

Thomas Rowlandson created this print, titled "The Procession, from Boswell's Tour of the Hebrides," sometime between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It's a satirical image that encapsulates the social dynamics of the period. The print depicts a group of men, seemingly inebriated, engaged in a nighttime procession, perhaps after a supper. Rowlandson uses caricature to underscore class distinctions and the performative nature of social rituals. The figures, possibly a landlord and master with their candle and lantern, are symbols of authority, yet their disheveled appearance hints at a breakdown of decorum. Notice how Rowlandson's work provides commentary on British identity, humor, and social critique. The figures teeter between the ridiculous and the pitiable, inviting us to question the values and behaviors of the society they represent. In looking at it we can consider how such images both reflected and shaped societal attitudes.