The Lottery 1721

William Hogarth made this print, "The Lottery," sometime in the mid-18th century. It's an etching, meaning he used acid to bite lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed. Etching allowed for intricate detail, and Hogarth uses it to full effect. The scene is a satirical take on the lottery, a popular craze at the time. But look closely and you'll see the figures aren't just people – they're allegorical characters like "Good Luck" and "Avarice," all caught up in the chaotic pursuit of wealth. The lottery barrels in the background, rendered with precise lines, suggest the mechanical, almost industrial nature of the whole enterprise. Hogarth was deeply concerned with social issues, and here he critiques the speculative bubbles that gripped England. This wasn't just about art; it was about holding a mirror up to society, using printmaking as a tool for social commentary.