Artwork
The Reward of Cruelty
The Reward of Cruelty is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Hogarth. It dates from 1751 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Reward of Cruelty is a print created by William Hogarth in 1751 using etching and engraving techniques. It is part of a series of satirical engravings critiquing social vices.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chaotic scene of punishment, conveying moral consequences within a broader critique of cruelty. The crowded and dark composition is filled with detailed figures, including a central figure on a table surrounded by onlookers and various symbolic elements like skulls and a dog.
Technique & Style
Hogarth employed etching and engraving to create the complex composition, packing the image with small, detailed figures to convey moral chaos. The use of text below the image adds a warning about the consequences of cruelty, reinforcing the satirical message.
Context
The print is part of Hogarth's narrative sequences, which exposed moral failings through sequential images, following the style of his other works like A Harlot's Progress and A Rake's Progress.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraver, satirist, cartoonist and writer.
