A Midnight Modern Conversation 1732 - 1733

"A Midnight Modern Conversation" (1732-33), an engraving by British artist William Hogarth, satirizes the excesses of fashionable London society in the 18th century. The scene depicts a group of men gathered around a table, engaged in boisterous revelry. Hogarth's use of caricature, with exaggerated features and postures, highlights the absurdity of their behavior, from the man passed out on the floor to the gentleman blowing bubbles in his drink. This work is part of a series of six engravings known as "The Rake's Progress" and highlights Hogarth's mastery of social commentary through visual storytelling.