Analysis of Beauty, Plate 2

Analysis of Beauty, Plate 2 by William Hogarth, executed in 1753, is a pivotal example of 18th-century English graphic arts. This detailed engraving represents the second of two plates Hogarth created to illustrate the theories presented in his groundbreaking treatise, The Analysis of Beauty (1753), which sought to define the fundamental principles underlying aesthetic appeal and graceful movement. The particular impression held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art is cataloged as the desirable first state of three, confirming its historical importance as an early example of the published prints.

Hogarth designed the complex composition to visually demonstrate his concepts, most famously the 'Line of Beauty,' a serpentine, undulating curve that he believed was intrinsically more beautiful than straight lines or simple geometric forms. The work depicts numerous groups of men and women engaged in various social activities, paying specific attention to how the body, when moving or posing, naturally adheres to these elegant curves. Figures engaged in dancing, a key subject in the plate, allow Hogarth to showcase the dynamism and flow associated with the ideal serpentine line versus stiff, unnatural poses.

Hogarth's intent was didactic, using the plate as a diagrammatic key to his philosophical and artistic work. The complexity of the engraving, featuring diverse figures and geometric elements, makes this piece a crucial document for understanding 18th-century Rococo aesthetics and English visual theory. This important early state print resides in the expansive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and due to its age, high-quality prints and reproductions of the work are now widely available in the public domain for research and study.