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

Thomas Rowlandson created this print called ‘The Journalist’ around 1786. It satirizes James Boswell's account of his tour of the Hebrides with Samuel Johnson. This etching offers us a glimpse into the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shaped artistic production at the time. Rowlandson, a key figure in British caricature, uses visual codes to critique Boswell's self-promotion and perceived pomposity. Here, Boswell is adorned with Scottish garb, brandishing his "Journal" while weighed down by "Materials for the Life of Sam. Johnson, L.L.D." The landscape behind him emphasizes his journey's setting, but the caricatured figure draws attention to his perceived self-importance. Boswell's own social standing, his obsession with celebrity, and the literary marketplace of late 18th-century Britain are all implicitly commented upon. Rowlandson, through his art, challenged the existing social norms and the institutions that upheld them. To understand this piece better, one might delve into the history of British caricature, the biography of James Boswell, and the publishing industry of the late 18th century. In doing so, we see that art's meaning is always contingent on its social and institutional context.