The Reward of Cruelty 1750

"The Reward of Cruelty" is an etching by British artist William Hogarth, created in 1750. This print depicts a scene of cruelty and depravity in a room with a large group of people gathered around a table where a body is being dissected. The image is filled with graphic detail, including a skeleton pointing at the scene and a dog scavenging for scraps. The composition is designed to shock and disgust the viewer, highlighting the dark side of humanity. The piece is part of the series "The Four Stages of Cruelty" and serves as a moralizing commentary on the consequences of violence and cruelty. "The Reward of Cruelty" is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago.