Frontispiece to Clubbe's Physiognomy (or the Weighing House)

The print titled Frontispiece to Clubbe's Physiognomy (or the Weighing House) by William Hogarth is a detailed engraving classified within the medium of prints, residing in the respected collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although the original design is attributed to Hogarth, who died in 1764, this specific impression is dated between 1800 and 1850, indicating it is likely a later state or a posthumous printing pulled from the original or a recut plate.

As an engraving, the work relies on precise line control and cross-hatching to define depth and texture, a technique favored during the 18th and early 19th centuries for mass distribution. The print was designed to serve as the frontispiece for a publication, suggesting an introductory illustration to a text discussing physiognomy, the practice of assessing character based on physical features.

Hogarth was celebrated for his ability to translate societal critique into visual satire. This piece focuses on a group of men gathered in the titular "Weighing House," presumably undergoing scrutiny or measurement related to the pseudo-scientific study of character. The composition likely lampoons the credulity of those who championed physiognomy, a common subject of ridicule in the era’s satirical art. The enduring popularity of Hogarth’s work meant that reproductions and posthumous prints, like this one, continued to circulate widely throughout the 19th century. Today, this example, held by the Met, contributes to the substantial body of Hogarth’s work available to the public domain.