The Unhappy Pair at Home

Date1745

Maker William Hogarth English, 1697-1764

Label TextThis engraving from Hogarth’s satirical series Marriage à la Mode is packed with amusing and meaningful visual details which add up to an indictment of cynical, immoral behavior among the upper classes. After a late night of separate carousing, the recently married couple sprawl in their lavish home, surrounded by tasteless extravagances. Their steward rolls his eyes in disgust, his hand full of unpaid bills. Hogarth was one of England’s leading artists during the Enlightenment. His “modern moral subjects” employed innovative storytelling through comical imagery, providing simultaneous instruction and enjoyment.

Object number33.718

Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe", February 17, 2000-May 7, 2000 (2/17/2000 - 5/7/2000)Published ReferencesIshikawa, Chiyo et al. "Seattle Art Museum Downtown." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 2007, illus. p. 57

Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection

Dimensions15 1/16 x 18 3/8 in. (38.2 x 46.6 cm)

MediumEngraving