A satirical watercolour by Washington Allston depicting the chaotic morning grooming routine of a fashionable young man.

This early work by Washington Allston, produced during his formative years in South Carolina, reflects the popular tradition of social satire prevalent in late eighteenth-century British and American art. The composition depicts a young man, the 'buck' of the title, undergoing an elaborate morning grooming ritual. He is surrounded by various attendants who assist with his attire, hair, and footwear, while he simultaneously pours a drink. The scene is chaotic, with a tipped chair and spilled liquid suggesting a lack of decorum and the excesses of the fashionable class.

Allston, who later became known for his atmospheric and romantic paintings, demonstrates a keen eye for caricature in this piece. The figures are rendered with exaggerated features and postures, typical of the satirical prints of the era that often critiqued the vanity and moral decline of the wealthy. The interior setting, complete with a fireplace and simple furnishings, provides a domestic backdrop for this display of artifice. The use of watercolour and ink allows for a clear, graphic quality that emphasises the narrative elements of the scene.

This work provides insight into the early development of an artist who would eventually move towards more serious, painterly subjects. It captures a specific moment in the cultural history of the period, where the performative nature of social status was a frequent subject for artistic commentary. The drawing style is direct, focusing on the interaction between the central figure and his servants to convey the absurdity of his situation. By examining this piece, one observes the influence of contemporary graphic satire on Allston's early practice, long before his transition to the moody, tonal works that defined his later career.