The Four Times of Day

The Four Times of Day by William Hogarth, executed in 1738, is a seminal series of sequential engravings that captures the complex rhythm and social stratification of 18th-century London. Hogarth utilized the detailed and deliberate technique of engraving to create highly sophisticated prints intended for wide public consumption, establishing the artist as the foremost visual commentator of his time.

The series is a defining example of Hogarth's narrative brilliance, where he personifies the different segments of the day through highly detailed, often chaotic scenes set within the urban metropolis. Each plate—"Morning," "Noon," "Evening," and "Night"—offers a distinct environment, moving geographically and socially across the city to highlight the moral differences between the aristocracy, the burgeoning middle class, and the impoverished laborers. From the stiff propriety and moralizing tone evident in the earlier scenes to the drunken disorder and ruin of "Night," Hogarth offers a scathing yet humorous critique of contemporary urban life and the moral decay observed across classes in the United Kingdom.

As a set of powerful satirical prints, this work demonstrates Hogarth’s technical mastery and enduring artistic legacy. This specific impression of The Four Times of Day is housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Given the historical significance and age of the work, many high-quality prints from the series have entered the public domain, allowing scholars and institutions worldwide to study and appreciate the foundation of British satirical art and the visual chronicling of metropolitan morality.