Antique 1811 Thomas Rowlandson Love Laughs at Locksmiths Colored Engraving, Framed

Early 19th century comedic satirical hand colored engraving titled “Love Laughs at Locksmiths” designed and published by Thomas Rowlandson, August 20, 1811. A hand-colored satirical print of an elderly man who stoops to unlock a huge padlock to his house. His cane rests against the door as he fumbles with the oversized lock. Next to him stands a servant carrying a basket of poultry / ducks on his head. His turned head draws our attention to the background where an army officer, undeterred by the lock, is helping a young woman to elope from an open window.

“Thomas Rowlandson (13 July 1757 – 21 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation. A prolific artist and printmaker, Rowlandson produced both individual social and political satires, as well as a large number of illustrations for novels, humorous books, and topographical works. Like other caricaturists of his age such as James Gillray, his caricatures are often robust or bawdy. Rowlandson also produced highly explicit erotica for a private clientele; this was never published publicly at the time and is now only found in a small number of collections. His caricatures included those of people in power such as the Duchess of Devonshire, William Pitt the Younger and Napoleon Bonaparte.”

Dimensions:
17.25″ x 1″ x 20.75″ / Sans Frame – 9.5″ x 13″ (Width x Depth x Height)