Four O'Clock in Town 1788

Thomas Rowlandson made this print, Four O'Clock in Town, using etching and watercolor to depict a chaotic scene of upper-class excess. The etching process allows for detailed linework, which Rowlandson then enlivened with washes of watercolor. This combination of techniques was ideal for creating prints that could be mass-produced and hand-colored, catering to a growing market for satirical images. Notice how the crisp lines define the figures, while the watercolors add depth and emotion to their flushed faces and disheveled clothing. The scene's narrative, etched into the copper plate, is amplified by the hand-applied colors, highlighting the moral undertones. Each print becomes a unique object through this process, blurring the lines between mechanical reproduction and artistic expression. By focusing on the making, we gain a clearer understanding of the economic and social contexts that shaped both the artwork and its reception.