Preparing to Start 1811

Editor: Here we have Thomas Rowlandson's "Preparing to Start," an etching and drawing print from 1811. It's a flurry of activity! So much to take in at once. What leaps out at you when you look at this, aside from the obvious equine energy? Curator: Ah, Rowlandson! He captures the delicious chaos of life, doesn't he? To me, it's not just horses. It’s a perfect snapshot of Georgian society at play. Can you almost hear the babble of voices and the thundering of hooves? Look at the details he packs in—the fashionable bonnets, the top hats, the little wooden tower overflowing with officials, all hinting at the excitement brewing, and, of course, the inevitable underlying absurdities of it all. Do you find that underlying sense of the absurd here? Editor: I do, definitely! I’m particularly struck by that viewing stand—almost like a makeshift treehouse for the elite. Is this satire typical of his work? Curator: Absolutely. Rowlandson's humor isn't just playful; it's observant, incisive, and a touch mischievous. He's winking at us, drawing attention to the social hierarchy while simultaneously making us laugh. The landscape style provides the ideal canvas to stage the scene, so full of movement, verging on explosion... A fascinating counterpoint to the formality of, say, portraits from the time. What would you compare the style of Romanticism that he employs here? Editor: Maybe something like Hogarth's social critiques but set outdoors? It’s fascinating how much is being said, visually. I am walking away with a new perspective about satirical illustrations. Thank you! Curator: Exactly! You have provided me with an urge to learn more. An adventure! Perhaps we should visit a horse race and experience first hand what we've studied!