Plate II from Marriage A-La-Mode 1796 - 1797

Plate II from Marriage A-La-Mode is an engraving which captures a moment of profound social critique through domestic drama. The scene unfolds within the lavish yet disheveled home of the newly married couple, emblematic of the aristocratic class in eighteenth-century England. The setting is far from harmonious. We see a stark contrast between the idle husband, lounging with his dogs, and his wife, who stretches and yawns, hinting at a shared ennui and detachment. The steward's horrified expression and the overturned chair suggest a night of disarray and excess. The room is filled with objects that scream wealth, but the underlying tension speaks volumes about the transactional nature of marriage and the superficiality of social status. This image serves as a mirror reflecting the moral decay of the upper class. It invites us to consider how social expectations and economic imperatives can corrupt personal relationships.