The Discovery 1788

Samuel Ireland's 1788 engraving "The Discovery" depicts a dramatic scene of a black woman being discovered in bed with a man, who is being confronted by another. This engraving was based on a design by William Hogarth, a famous British artist known for satirical works. This piece was likely made after the original print was destroyed and reflects an interest in the original design and Hogarth's art. The inscription "Qui Color albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo." translates to "The color that was white, is now the opposite of white," a satirical take on the hypocrisy of the time. "The Discovery" is a historical artwork with significant artistic and social value and is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.