The Four Times of Day: Night

"The Four Times of Day: Night" by William Hogarth, created in 1738, is a significant example of 18th-century British social satire executed in the medium of engraving. This striking print belongs to a celebrated set of four works, collectively known as The Four Times of Day, which chronologically illustrate the moral and social conditions of Londoners during different parts of the 24-hour cycle. Hogarth, a towering figure in the art of the United Kingdom, used this series to critique the excesses and misfortunes of urban life with sharp visual wit, employing the popular format of prints to ensure wide distribution and cultural impact.

As the final installment in the sequence, Night typically depicts scenes of confusion, revelry, and collapse, capturing the chaos and disorder common in late-night London streets. The meticulous rendering achieved through the engraving technique allows Hogarth to pack the composition with dense narrative details and pointed commentary on the perils of darkness and intoxication. The success of this graphic series established Hogarth's reputation for creating narrative works accessible to a broad public. The widespread appeal of the subject matter ensured that these historic prints were highly influential and frequently reproduced, often making them accessible in major institutional and public domain collections today.

This particular impression of the work is preserved in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it serves as a crucial document of 18th-century English art and visual history.