Downstairs

This postcard, in the reception area of the theatre I work in, caught my eye as I was heading home this evening. Downstairs is a bistro a few steps from our office, and many of us make coffee runs, imbibe in a few Friday night drinks, or enjoy an occasional spot of luncheon there. Ours is not the only theatre nearby, either, so it is not surprising they should target the theatre crowd.

The whimsical antique illustration is an unusual choice, given that the venue is quite modern. It is clearly of a theatrical bent however, and it did tickle my funny bone. The gentleman’s dress on the far left dates the illustration to the Regency period in England (1811–1820).

On closer inspection, apart from the period details (dress) and the typical caricature style of the era, the sketchy – even scribbled – pencil strokes give the illustration an appealing immediacy and modernity. I suspect it is a sketch, rather than a finished piece, and therein lies its charm.

Now that I’ve read the menus on the reverse, I feel a bit peckish.