O Tempora, O Mores! 1799

Samuel Alken created this print, titled "O Tempora, O Mores!" using etching and aquatint. It depicts a scene of drunken disarray, offering a glimpse into the social life of late 18th-century England. The print’s title, a Latin phrase meaning "Oh, the times! Oh, the morals!" suggests a critique of contemporary society. We see men collapsed in various states of inebriation, surrounded by overturned furniture and discarded objects. The scene speaks to a culture of excess and moral decay. Made during a period of significant social and political change, this print reflects anxieties about the decline of traditional values and the rise of hedonism among the elite. The artist uses visual cues, such as the disheveled clothing and chaotic setting, to convey a sense of moral disorder. Art historians use sources such as period literature and social commentary to better understand these themes and to interpret the print's commentary on the times.