Southwark Fair - The Humours of A Fair. by William Hogarth, 1697-1764

William Hogarth, 1697-1764
Scroll down for information.
Click here to return to the list.

Southwark Fair - The Humours of A Fair.

Original etching and engraving. 1733/34. With the 'Invented Painted & Engrav'd by Wm Hogarth 1733'. Very fine early lifetime impression.
Ref: Paulson - Hogarth's Graphic Works no 131.

Unusually fine early impression with very crisp line and no plate wear. Pale cream 18th century laid paper. Print surface excellent; extreme top left margin tip (outside image) replaced, a minor tear 1/4 inch in the lower right margin corner repaired (outside image), the faintest trace of a vertical paper crease. Trimmed just inside the platemark, probably for 18th century framing. Sheet: 14 1/8 x 18 3/8ins.

This item is sold.
Click here to enquire about this item.

Southwark Fair was the second most renowned, or perhaps notorious, in London, after Bartholomew Fair. Held in September it started as a market and became increasingly a place of entertainment. In 1762 it was abolished as the so-called theatres and drinking dens had become centres of vice, and extremely dangerous. As in so many of Hogarth's works of this type each element of the composition is based on actual location, and the themes of the events shown as taking place were chosen to reinforce the purport of his social comment in the picture.

This is a very beautiful early impression; the conservation has been to the margin areas only (see above).

See also the notes on Hogarth with 'The Laughing Audience'.