Evening

Date1738

Designed and printed by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)

Engraver Bernard Baron (ca. 1700 - 1766)

OriginEngland, London

MediumEtching and line engraving

DimensionsOverall: 22 1/2 × 18in. (57.2 × 45.7cm) Other (Plate): 19 1/2 × 15 3/4in. (49.5 × 40cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1966-496

DescriptionLower margin reads: "Invented Painted & Publish'd by W.m Hogarth. March 25.th 1738. according to Act of Parliament/ EVENING/ Engraved by B. Baron/ Price 5 Shillings:"
Label TextThis is plate three of William Hogarth's series "The Four Times of Day" which shows the progress of a day from morning to night around London. They play on the tradition of representing gods and goddesses to show the times of day. Hogarth recasts these deities as the central characters of the prints. This is the third plate represents Evening, possibly around 5:00 pm when it was time to milk cows. This scene takes place in a rural suburb of London featuring a family walking on a hot day to Sadler's Wells theater. The central figure, a pregnant and domineering woman fanning herself serves as an allegory for Diana. Her husband, whose stained hands suggests he is a dyer by trade, is implied to be cuckholded by the placement of the cow's horns just behind his head. Two of their children, a girl (lower left) and boy (lower right) act out the implied inequalities in their parent's marriage. The scolding girl orders her brother to hand over his gingerbread.