Sailing Among the Hebrides, from Boswell's Tour of the Hebrides 1786

Thomas Rowlandson made this etching, *Sailing Among the Hebrides*, in 1786. Rowlandson was a popular English artist known for his caricatures and social satires, and this print pokes fun at a specific cultural moment. It illustrates an episode from James Boswell's account of his travels in Scotland with Samuel Johnson. Boswell, the somewhat foppish figure in the center, looks perplexed as he is confronted by a lively Scotsman. The image plays on stereotypes and cultural differences, the English gentleman versus the rugged Highlander. It reflects the complex relationship between England and Scotland in the 18th century, following the Jacobite risings. Rowlandson's work was often commissioned for books and prints, feeding a growing market for popular imagery. This print offers a window into the social attitudes and cultural dynamics of its time. Art historians often consult travel literature, political pamphlets, and other period documents to fully understand the context in which such works were created and consumed.