The Pit 

This print, called "The Pit," was created by William Hogarth in 18th-century England using engraving. Hogarth’s social satires like this one are acute commentaries on the foibles of his time. Here, a diverse crowd gathers around a cockfight, an extremely popular form of entertainment in Georgian England. The image uses the drama of the scene to highlight the obsession of the audience. Hogarth includes visual gags which satirise the bawdy social habits of the British upper class. His works often carried a strong moral message, criticizing the excess and folly of the wealthy. To fully appreciate Hogarth, we need to consider the social mores, entertainments, and class dynamics of 18th-century England. Broadsides and other popular print formats were his means of distribution. Art historians delve into such primary sources to shed light on the original context and reception of works like “The Pit.”