Before

The print Before, created by William Hogarth in 1736, is an exemplary piece of 18th-century British graphic satire. This visual narrative is executed in the meticulous technique of etching and engraving, and this particular impression represents the second state among the three known versions. Hogarth was a master visual storyteller, using his narrative prints to chronicle the moral complexities and social failings of Georgian London.

The scene unfolds in an intimate setting, a luxurious bedroom which serves as the stage for a moment of intense, awkward romantic tension. The composition centers on a young man and a woman, whose body language contrasts sharply. The woman appears resistant or coy, leaning away from the persistent man who attempts to seize her hand. Hogarth employs symbolic details to reinforce the narrative implications of the title. A small, anxious dog tucked beneath the dressing table mirrors the woman's distress or apprehension, while the discarded clothing suggests the impending action.

This print was designed as a pair to the subsequent work, After, forming a didactic sequence highly popular among Hogarth’s contemporary audience. The pairing cemented his reputation for combining pointed social commentary with accessible, detailed visual narratives. As one of the preeminent British prints of the era, the work continues to be studied for its technical proficiency and detailed depiction of contemporaneous social customs between men and women. This impression is part of the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and profound cultural significance, this celebrated work is often distributed as public domain material, ensuring its broad availability for study and appreciation.