Children Fishing 1788

George Morland produced this aquatint titled 'Children Fishing'. Made in England, the image presents a scene of leisure that speaks to the changing social structures of the late 18th century. Notice how the children are dressed. Their clothes mimic adult styles, suggesting a self-conscious performance of social roles, rather than an innocent engagement with nature. The picturesque landscape acts as a stage for this display, reflecting the growing importance of leisure and consumption in British society. Morland himself moved between rural and urban environments and engaged with a variety of social classes. His institutional background is difficult to pin down. To understand this image better, we might explore period literature, fashion plates, and social histories. We can explore this image as a window into a world where childhood innocence and the social performance of adulthood were intertwined.