Before

Before, a 1736 work by William Hogarth, is a powerful early example of the artist’s narrative prints and his lifelong commitment to visual social satire. Classified specifically as a print, this piece utilizes the detailed techniques of etching and engraving. It represents the first known state of three produced for this specific subject, demonstrating the incremental refinement Hogarth often applied to his copper plates to achieve the desired effect. The work belongs to a popular pair, often displayed alongside its companion, After, forming a dramatic two-part commentary on seduction and the fragile nature of social morality prevalent in Georgian London.

Hogarth employs acute visual symbolism to depict a moment of charged courtship unfolding within a private space, clearly identified as a wealthy individual’s bedroom. The composition focuses intently on the figures of the Men and Women, whose contrasting body language narrates the conflict: the aggressive suitor attempting persuasion, and the resistant woman recoiling near a dressing table. The setting emphasizes elements of disorder and moral disquiet, signaled by overturned furniture and abandoned objects. A small Dog, a common element in Hogarth’s narratives, observes the interaction, serving as a subtle clue to the inevitable outcome implied by the sequence of prints.

The intense popularity of Hogarth’s narrative prints made him a critical figure in 18th-century art, allowing him to disseminate complex social critiques to a wide, burgeoning middle-class audience. This significant print is held in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving its technical finesse and enduring historical value. Though created nearly three centuries ago, these influential eighteenth-century etchings remain crucial sources for studying British cultural history. As works of historical significance, versions of this influential etching are frequently found in the public domain, allowing global access to Hogarth’s masterful visual narratives today.