Five in the Morning 1795

Robert Dighton the Elder's satirical etching *Five in the Morning* (1795) depicts a group of inebriated men struggling to navigate a cobblestone street in London, likely after a night out at the Covent Garden Theatre. This caricature, held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, mocks the social habits and excesses of the time. Dighton, a prolific caricaturist known for his biting humor and skillful use of line, captures the comical clumsiness and disarray of his subjects. The etching was printed in the 18th century, reflecting a social commentary on drunkenness, a prevalent issue in the time period.