The Tête à Tête

Satire piece
- Mocked the upper class
- William Hogarth begun this
- Used humor to draw attention to all social classes ESPECIALLY the upper class
- Made in print form so the primary audience was the lower classes
Part of a series of prints so they could be passed out to those without money and his engravings allowed him to make the final painting perfect
After the marriage each partner has been pursuing their own pleasures
- Husband out cheating and gambling
- Broken sword underneath him which means he has been in a fight and lost or that he is “inadequate”
- Wife notices her lover has just left in a hurry
- Accountant is frustrated because he can’t get the couple to take their finances seriously
- Turned over chair with the violin because the violinist made a hasty retreat
- Violin reference to sexual encounters and hints that sex just took place
Candles all out but one
On the mantle behind them were nicknacks with sculptures with the main sculpture having his nose broken
Things have haistily been knocked over and they’re not caring for anything
On the wall behind the servant is a painting of a nude that is being covered up next to the paints of three saints, the cloth represent them covering up the affair during their marriage
Strong perspective lines and vert mathematical/ intense

Aristocrats losing power
Traditional social hierarchies are being interrupted
Many were concerned about marriage as arranged marriage marriages were starting the vbe based off of love instead of economic benefit

18th c. English Satirical Print