The Margate Hoy 1789

Charles Catton Jr.’s etching, The Margate Hoy, captures a scene of communal distress, yet one can see the ways in which each figure holds a certain cultural pose of suffering. Notice the expressions of nausea; these are not new. The ancient Greeks and Romans depicted similar agonies in their sculptures of sea voyages, a symbol of life’s tumultuous journey. But here, the addition of contemporary fashion and social class adds layers of meaning. Consider how the act of vomiting itself has been portrayed across time—from ancient fertility rituals to modern-day expressions of disgust. Catton taps into our collective memory of these primal acts, engaging us on a visceral level. This tableau of collective suffering on the Margate Hoy reminds us that certain human experiences transcend time and culture, resurfacing in art with each new generation.