Times of the Day, Noon 1738

Editor: This is William Hogarth’s engraving, "Times of the Day, Noon," created in 1738. It feels almost like a chaotic snapshot of 18th-century London. What a busy, crowded street! I'm curious, what do you see happening in this piece? Curator: Oh, I love getting lost in Hogarth’s world! To me, it's a visual opera. Each character is singing their own tune, contributing to this raucous symphony of everyday life. Look closely – you have the upper class emerging from the church. Pompous, probably gossiping already, juxtaposed with the street urchins below. The narrative's sly, isn’t it? It's got that pinch of irony I find delicious. Editor: It's interesting that you see an opera, I hadn’t thought of it like that. The contrast is stark, especially between the pristine clothes of the churchgoers and the, shall we say, unfortunate mess near that poor child. Is Hogarth making a specific point about class divisions? Curator: Absolutely! Hogarth was a master of social commentary. He held up a mirror to society, showing both its beauty and its blemishes. That 'unfortunate mess,' as you delicately put it, isn't just there for shock value. It’s symbolic! It shows the disregard, perhaps even obliviousness, the wealthy had towards the lower classes and the consequences of such ignorance. Did you catch that detail of the lady being kissed on the neck? So juicy! Editor: Now that you point it out I do! So many little dramas within one image. The “operatic” comparison is really sticking now. I really like that, thank you. I’ll look closer at the details now; the symbolism and societal critiques give it much more meaning. Curator: Wonderful! Remember, art’s a dialogue, always changing with our perceptions.