A Midnight Modern Conversation

A Midnight Modern Conversation

This satirical picture by William Hogarth shows the impact of an evening’s drinking on a group of his friends. Indeed, the clock shows that the ‘midnight conversation’ has run on till four in the morning. The detailed scene makes fun of the men in various states of drunkenness. We see wigs slipping, clothing set on fire and an overflowing chamber pot.

Hogarth began his career as an engraver but later he painted in oils. This print was so popular that it was frequently copied without his permission, so Hogarth lobbied for a copyright act to protect artists and writers.

Visual description: An engraving of a lively and chaotic scene. A group of men in various states of drunkenness gather around a table littered with bottles and glasses. One man stands unsteadily, raising his glass in a toast, while another slumps forward in a drunken stupor. On one side, a man precariously leans back in his chair while attempting to light a pipe from a candle. At the front, one man has fallen from his chair while a man behind him pours wine onto the floor.