William Hogarth's Trade Card (modern reproduction)

William Hogarth's Trade Card (modern reproduction) is a print based on the original 18th-century design by William Hogarth. This specific iteration, dating from approximately 1880 to 1928, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rather than an original copperplate impression, this piece is classified as a print produced via a photographic or lithographic reproduction process, meticulously recreating the fine line work characteristic of Hogarth’s original etching and engraving techniques.

The purpose of Hogarth’s original design was likely commercial, serving as an advertisement or trade card. The visual language employed in the Trade Card would have showcased the artist’s renowned skill for combining detailed imagery with commercial necessity—a hallmark of Hogarth’s graphic arts output. As a central figure in 18th-century British painting and prints, Hogarth frequently explored themes of social commentary, but he was also a master of functional, engaging design.

The fact that this reproduction was made between the late 19th and early 20th centuries speaks to the enduring popularity and influence of Hogarth. By that time, many of his original masterworks were in the public domain, allowing institutions and publishers to disseminate high-quality prints affordably. This accessibility ensured that Hogarth’s powerful, satirical, and technically proficient graphic imagery remained a standard reference for artists and the general public, demonstrating how 18th-century designs entered the modern visual lexicon via later reproduction techniques.