Sarah Malcolm

Sarah Malcolm is a powerful print created by the renowned English artist William Hogarth. Classified specifically as a print, this piece utilizes a combination of engraving and stipple techniques to achieve depth and atmospheric shading. While Hogarth himself passed away in 1764, the wide date range of 1750-1850 indicates that this specific impression is likely a late-period or posthumous print pulled from the original or a recut plate, a common practice in disseminating popular imagery during the period.

The work functions as a compelling portrait of a woman who became infamous in 18th-century England. Sarah Malcolm was a notorious figure, executed for a triple murder in 1733, and her case captivated the London populace. Hogarth, known for his keen observation of social morality and contemporary affairs, turned his attention to such criminal portraits, transforming mere documentation into pointed social commentary. The detailed line work afforded by the engraving medium captures the subject's expression and context, cementing her image in the public consciousness.

This type of print, circulated widely across Britain, exemplifies how Hogarth used reproductive media to engage directly with current events, ensuring broad public access to his unique blend of narrative art and social documentation. This important example of historical prints resides in the prestigious collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Many such masterworks from this era eventually enter the public domain, allowing institutions and researchers worldwide access to high-quality images for study.