William Hogarth & John Keyse Sherwin - The Politician - FIRST STATE (1775)

Title: The Politician [First State]

Artist: William Hogarth (1697-1764)

Engraver: John Keyse Sherwin (1751-1790)

Year of printing: 1775

Origin: London, United Kingdom

Technique: Original copper-engraving on laid paper

Note: This is the first state of this famous print. It has the original day of publishing added in 18th century handwriting. Unlike later re strikes from the 19th century (pulled from the original copper plate but at a much later date), this version is printed on original hand laid paper common for the first state. Sharp impression, clear plate-mark.

Size (inc. mat): 53 x 43 cm

Size image: 36.5 x 26.2 cm

Professionally matted in acid-free museum quality mat-board, broad margins, sharp impression.

Artist: William Hogarth (1697-1764) was an English painter, engraver, pictorial satirist, social critic, editorial cartoonist and occasional writer on art. As an artist, Hogarth was known as a well-established portrait-painter. However, he became mostly famous as a cartoonist who (through designing and publishing prints) mocked 18th century current affairs through "modern moral subjects" depicted in a humorous / satirical way. During Hogarth's time, art became more commercialised and through the distribution / publishing of prints more accessible to a general audience. In England, the fine arts had little comedy in them before Hogarth. Hogarth's idea was: "painting and engraving modern moral subjects... to treat my subjects as a dramatic writer, my picture was my stage". Most of Hogarth's prints that were published / printed during his lifetime or in the 18th century are much rarer than the later 19th century restrikes. This particular print was printed / published by his widow Jane Hogarth.

Technique: The technique used for this print is copper-engraving. After an artist made a drawing, an engraver would that image (reversed) on a copperplate and would engrave all the details of that image in that plate. After this, ink would be applied on the plate and immediately whipped of the surface, leaving only ink in the grooves. The plate was then placed under a press with a piece of paper on top. After pressing, the ink from the grooves would remain on the paper creating the image.

Depiction: The politician (Ebenezer Forrest) by William Hogarth. Satire with a man reading a newspaper oblivious of the candle that he holds burning a hole in his hate.