The Patriotick Barber of New York, or the Captain in Suds

Art Historical Context

Published on February 14, 1775, by London printmakers Robert Sayer and John Bennett, with etching attributed to Philip Dawe,The Patriotick Barber of York, or the Captain Suds* captures a moment of colonial tension on the eve of the American. This mezzotint print depicts a barber—likely a satirical stand-in for American patriots—preparing to shave a British captain, surrounded by period details like wigs and barber tools. The exaggerated title pokes fun at "patriotick" sentiments in New York, reflecting mockery of colonial unrest amid rising calls for independence. Mezzotint, a revolutionary 18th-century technique, allowed for velvety blacks and subtle tones, making it ideal for dramatic, tonal scenes like this one. Rocked with a mezzotint rocker to create burrs for deep ink retention, the plate was then scraped and burnished for highlights, producing rich contrasts that heightened the print's humorous bite. Measuring 14 x 9 15/16 inches on the plate, it was designed for wide distribution as affordable propaganda. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924), this work exemplifies how visual satire fueled transatlantic debates, blending everyday life with political edge to entertain and provoke audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

About the Artist

R. Sayer and J. Bennett|Philip Dawe (British|British) · 1745 |1770 –1809 |1800

British, 1745?–?1809|London