Doctor Syntax in een Romakamp 1820 - 1822

Thomas Rowlandson created this watercolor and pen drawing, “Doctor Syntax in een Romakamp,” depicting a scene of encounter and exchange. Made during a time when Romanticism idealized the ‘noble savage’, this work brings forth complex issues of identity, class and cultural representation. Here we see Doctor Syntax, a character conceived by William Combe, interacting with a Romani camp. Rowlandson’s portrayal offers a window into the perception of marginalized communities in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Romani people, often stereotyped and misunderstood, are shown here in a manner that invites us to consider the dynamics of cultural encounter and the gaze of the outsider. How does Rowlandson’s work reflect and shape societal attitudes towards marginalized groups? What does it mean to represent the ‘other’? The encounter captured here prompts us to reflect on the historical and ongoing complexities of cultural exchange and representation.