Pisces: Hogarth's Quadrille Fish

Pisces: Hogarth's Quadrille Fish by William Hogarth is a significant early 18th-century print created between 1729 and 1731. This work exemplifies Hogarth’s sophisticated application of graphic art, masterfully utilizing the precise techniques of etching and engraving to achieve deep tonal variation and detail. Produced during the Georgian era, a period when political and social satire flourished, the piece serves as a commentary that merges classical mythology with contemporary British culture. Hogarth’s detailed line work is characteristic of the prints being widely produced and circulated at the time, establishing him as a crucial figure in the dissemination of visual narratives.

The piece, though labeled for the Zodiac sign Pisces, transcends a simple astronomical depiction. Hogarth transforms the symbolic fish into humanized characters participating in a popular social activity: the quadrille dance. The quadrille was a complex, fashionable dance of the era, and by depicting the fish executing its movements, Hogarth introduces a humorous, slightly absurd element of caricature. This visual interpretation allowed the artist to critique contemporary societal behaviors and fashions through allegorical satire, using the familiar framework of the Zodiac to deliver an unusual, unexpected visual punchline. Today, fine prints of such works are highly valued, illustrating the early power of graphic art in the public domain to circulate significant visual commentary. This piece is held in the comprehensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as an important reference for understanding 18th-century British satire and the artistic application of etching and engraving techniques.