The Extravagant Woman Does Not Perceive Her Circumstances Decaying n.d.

Curator: Look at the almost breezy lines in this drawing, titled "The Extravagant Woman Does Not Perceive Her Circumstances Decaying," here at the Art Institute. We attribute it to Thomas Rowlandson. It is rendered in graphite, ink and watercolor on paper, and partakes in both the Romanticism and caricature styles. Editor: It feels so slight, so airy—but heavy with implied critique. The colours are diluted, giving it almost the quality of a ghost. But I can't help noticing the potting. It’s a simple clay, readily available, nothing precious there. Yet it contains life. Curator: Indeed. Clay—the ultimate foundation—supporting vanity and oblivion. This resonates. Consider how flowers have historically symbolized fragility, fleeting beauty. And here they become a burden almost literally being foisted on the oblivious. There is another woman peeking from behind. The symbols of witnessing seem hard to avoid. Editor: And Rowlandson captures this delicate moment so well by layering different mediums in drawing, like graphite and ink for sketching the forms first, then watercolor on paper as a method for adding translucent washes of color to accentuate details. Think about the accessibility! The materials suggest a conscious decision to portray not just wealth, but perhaps its superficiality. The ass and his simple flower cart say as much. Curator: And that very accessibility makes the sentiment potent! Genre scenes like this provided commentary on societal behaviors, playing with both literal and allegorical registers. The decaying circumstances of her world and even personal awareness can’t seem to fully penetrate. Editor: It’s a smart, simple statement using very grounded tools: ink, paper, accessible paint… all deployed with maximum impact. It really is about revealing what we put into them. Curator: Right—revealing layers of meaning built upon seemingly simple visual elements, prompting viewers to question the values attached to certain symbols over others. A flower in the right hand transforms… Editor: Definitely, it makes me think differently about how we attach value and meaning through not just what's shown, but how it is depicted through these earthly means.