Artwork
Night
Night is an ink print by the Baroque artist William Hogarth. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1738, *Night* is an English print that combines etching with engraving. The work depicts a bustling nocturnal street scene, illuminated by a single candlelit window and a distant fire. Hogarth’s composition captures a moment of disorder, with figures gathered around a glowing interior and others reacting to the blaze outside.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a chaotic urban tableau: on the left, a crowd peers through a brightly lit window at a group indulging in food and drink, while a fire blazes in the background, drawing onlookers and rescuers alike. The juxtaposition of revelry and danger reflects Hogarth’s interest in moral commentary on public vice and the fragility of social order.
Technique & Style
Hograil employs a combination of etching and engraving to achieve fine line work and pronounced contrasts. Sharp, incised lines define the architecture and figures, while deep shadows heighten the night atmosphere. The luminous window and fire are rendered with delicate cross‑hatching, creating a stark visual tension between light and darkness that drives the scene’s urgency.
History & Provenance
It remains documented in several 18th‑century collections and continues to be cited as an example of early British social critique through print.
William Hogarth, originally trained as an apprentice engraver, produced *Night* during a prolific period of satirical printmaking. The work forms part of his broader output of moralizing series and single‑issue prints that established the “Hogarthian” style. It remains documented in several 18th‑century collections and continues to be cited as an example of early British social critique through print.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraver, satirist, cartoonist and writer.
