Plate IV from Marriage à la Mode 1745

Simon François Ravenet I created Plate IV from Marriage à la Mode, using engraving techniques. The composition is a theatrical arrangement where each figure and object plays a deliberate role. Lines define forms and textures creating a stage for social commentary. Consider the formal arrangement within the room. Hogarth uses the receding space and elaborate decor to create a sense of depth and enclosure. The characters are positioned to direct the eye across the scene. Note how the setting becomes a character itself, reflecting the moral and social decay. The formal elements underscore the narrative content, where each detail adds another layer to the critique. The use of line and form functions as a semiotic system, filled with signs that Hogarth uses to critique 18th-century society. This print challenges the traditional values of marriage and aristocracy. The artwork encourages an ongoing interpretation of social values, reminding us of the complexities inherent in cultural critique.