Time Smoking a Picture

"Time Smoking a Picture" is a biting satirical print created by William Hogarth between 1756 and 1766. Classified as an etching and aquatint, this impression represents the third state of three, a variant not recorded in standard early catalogs. The print offers a self-aware, humorous commentary on the arbitrary nature of reputation and the physical degradation of paintings in 18th-century England, employing the subject of decay to deliver its powerful social satire.

The central figure personifies Time, depicted as a winged, bearded ancient figure shown deliberately "smoking" an old picture using a long pipe. The resulting smoke darkens the artwork, a visual metaphor directly referencing the common practice of restorers applying brown varnish to "mellow" new pictures, or the physical obscuration caused by smoke and grime over decades. Hogarth used this graphic imagery to critique the prevailing obsession with antiquity, suggesting that veneration of the old masters was often blind, mistaking accidental grime or intentional antiquing for genuine artistic depth.

Hogarth’s use of both etching and aquatint allowed him to achieve fine detail coupled with broad tonal areas, a hallmark of sophisticated 18th-century prints. This specific medium choice enhanced the theatrical quality of the scene. Like many of Hogarth's influential works of social critique, the enduring power of the satire ensures its continued study. Today, the images from this masterwork often pass into the public domain, preserving access to these historical prints. This impression of Time Smoking a Picture is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.