O Tempora, O Mores! 1799

Editor: So, this is Samuel Alken's "O Tempora, O Mores!" from 1799, an etching with aquatint and watercolor. It strikes me as a darkly humorous snapshot, everyone's passed out except two rather alarmed-looking gentlemen. What do you make of it? Curator: The title itself, "O Tempora, O Mores!" – "Oh, the times! Oh, the morals!" – immediately situates this work within a tradition of social critique. Alken's caricature speaks volumes about the perceived decline in social decorum during the late 18th century. Consider how the print media served as a burgeoning platform for commentary and dissent at this time. Do you think the scene depicted challenges the established norms? Editor: Absolutely! It feels like a jab at the elite, who were maybe seen as degenerating. The dog sleeping peacefully in the foreground, oblivious to the mess, seems to emphasize this… It's a very contemporary way to depict the world around us. Curator: Exactly! Alken wasn't just recording a scene; he was making a statement about power, class, and the shifting moral landscape. The print’s availability to a wider public also allowed for a democratisation of this critique. Do you see parallels in today's media, where artists use similar methods to critique contemporary society? Editor: For sure, social media is today’s etching, available to almost everyone to denounce or to praise something. I see that same activist message behind this watercolor! It really sheds a different light on this image than just a painting of drunk people. Curator: Precisely. It shows how art is embedded in the cultural conversations of its time. Thinking about how this print engaged with contemporary issues really enhances our understanding. Editor: I agree, it’s great to see how art reflects on society and power, even in what appears to be just a humorous image.