Noon (The Four Times of Day)

Art Historical Context

**Noon (The Four Times of Day William Hogarth, 1738 Engraving; second state of two Step into the bustling streets of 18th-century London with William Hogarth's *Noon*, the second installment in his renowned series *The Four Times Day*. Created as an engraving on March 25, 1738, this print captures a lively midday scene teeming with crowds gathered around doorways and buildings. Hogarth, a pioneering English artist and satirist, masterfully used the medium of engraving to produce affordable, widely circulated images that critiqued societal follies and class divides. As a second-state impression, this version reflects Hogarth's meticulous revisions, enhancing details for greater impact. Measuring 19 5/16 x 16 1/8 inches, the plate's intricate lines convey the chaos and diversity of urban life—crowds spilling from doorways suggest a vibrant mix of everyday encounters. Hogarth's realistic yet humorous style, blending Rococo elegance with sharp social commentary, made his works accessible to all classes, influencing printmaking and moral storytelling in art. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1891 by Sarah Lazarus, *Noon* remains a vivid window into Georgian England, reminding us how Hogarth turned the mundane into profound satire.

About the Artist

William Hogarth · 1697–1764

William Hogarth (1697-1764) was an English painter, printmaker, and pictorial satirist who became the first great English-born artist to attract admiration abroad. Born into poverty in London, the son of a failed schoolmaster who was imprisoned for debt, Hogarth's early experiences with the harsh realities of 18th-century urban life profoundly shaped his artistic vision. After apprenticing with si...