Morning, or, A Man of Taste 1802 - 1811

This satirical print presents a scene laden with visual cues about class and taste. The central motif is the serving of food, a potent symbol of both sustenance and status. Notice how the presentation of the game—the raw meat and fowl—elicits a visceral reaction from the refined lady, highlighting her delicate sensibilities. We see echoes of this contrast in earlier Dutch still lifes, where displays of lavish food also carried moral undertones, hinting at excess and decay. The lady's gesture of rejection is not merely about disliking the sight of raw meat; it speaks to a deeper cultural anxiety about the natural versus the artificial, the raw versus the cooked. Consider how such images tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with primal instincts and societal norms. This symbol, like many others, is not linear; it resurfaces, evolves, and is continually reinterpreted across time.