The Times, Plate 2

The Times, Plate 2 is a complex and historically rich print created by William Hogarth in 1790, executed in the demanding fine art technique of etching and engraving. Documented here as the fourth and final state of four, this impression represents the artist’s matured vision for the highly allegorical scene. Hogarth, widely recognized as the preeminent visual satirist of 18th-century Britain, utilized the reproducible medium of prints to distribute his pointed commentary widely across the public domain.

The work is a meticulous visual critique of the contemporary political and social environment in London. Hogarth stages a chaotic scene populated by numerous men representing various factions and institutions, all engaged in some form of self-serving or misguided activity. The setting is dominated by detailed architectural renderings of metropolitan buildings, which function not merely as backdrop but as symbols of the civic decay and institutional failure under attack.

Central to the satire is the depiction of a destructive fountain, which vividly visualizes the notion of resources being violently mismanaged or misused, illustrating the disorder gripping the capital. Through his mastery of narrative engraving, Hogarth combines these elements of buildings, men, and fountains into a cohesive satirical argument regarding the state of governance.

As an enduring example of British graphic satire, the print holds immense historical value. This impression of The Times, Plate 2 is held within the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a testament to Hogarth’s profound and enduring influence on the tradition of political prints.