Artwork Page for Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn

Details / Information for Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn

Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn

1738

William Hogarth

(British, 1697–1764)
Culture
England, 18th century
Medium
engraving
Measurements
Platemark: 45 x 56.5 cm (17 11/16 x 22 1/4 in.); Sheet: 48.8 x 62.6 cm (19 3/16 x 24 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Curtiss Rose 1959.310
Catalogue raisonné
Burke and Caldwell 181; Paulson 156
State
IV/V (Paulson)
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

The playful irreverence of this backstage scene is underscored by the kittens in the foreground, one of whom plays with a globus cruciger, or cross-bearing orb, recognized as a symbol of authority throughout the Christian world.

Description

Known for his satire, William Hogarth considered this print a protest of British prime minister Robert Walpole’s Licensing Act of 1737, which gave the government power to heavily censor theatrical productions. A reference to the act appears on a large crown in the left foreground, near a playbill. Still, Hogarth poked fun at the somewhat indulgent lifestyle of players by juxtaposing the actresses’ challenging reality with the stage sets and costumes that portray lofty classical deities and the heavens. The shabby and chaotic backstage is made more so by the hefty consumption of wine and other alcoholic beverages, even among younger people.
A horizontally oriented engraving in black ink depicts people with light skin tones in a crowded barn. In the center, a woman stands with arms raised. To the left, a man speaks to a seated woman near an eagle prop. On the lower right, a medium-dark-skinned woman works amidst costumes. Fine cross-hatching shades the scene and text runs along the bottom. Above, a dragon and flag hang from the rafters.

Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn

1738

William Hogarth

(British, 1697–1764)
England, 18th century

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