From an Original Sketch of William Hogarth's in the Collection of Mr. Morrison 1782

Curator: I must admit, there’s an immediate tension to the stark contrast here. The dynamic struggle really leaps off the page, don’t you think? Editor: Indeed. We're looking at an engraving titled "From an Original Sketch of William Hogarth's in the Collection of Mr. Morrison," executed by Richard Livesay in 1782. It resides here at the Met. And I would add that the linework gives it an immediate rawness, an immediacy… appropriate considering its allegorical subject matter. Curator: Quite right. Observe how Livesay employs a fairly minimal number of lines to delineate the human form versus the skeletal figure. The textures of the bone, suggested through a delicate scrim of closely-knit hatching and cross-hatching. It achieves a remarkably palpable quality through suggestion, rather than explicit detailing. Editor: I'm immediately drawn to Livesay's source material. We're told it's "From an Original Sketch of William Hogarth's". Who was Mr. Morrison? And more to the point, how does this print operate as a medium for disseminating and cementing Hogarth's reputation decades after his death? The layering of hands is intriguing. Curator: Interesting point! To pivot back to composition, notice how the intertwined figures occupy almost all the available space within the frame, amplifying the sense of conflict. This evokes that raw Hogarthian social critique with Academic elegance. Editor: I would argue it elevates printmaking. To circulate art and to challenge notions of artistic authorship by allowing artists such as Livesay, who often worked on commission and from others' designs, to leave their mark, but in service of Hogarth. The work feels very connected to the burgeoning printmaking economy of the time. Curator: Certainly, you offer a potent understanding of the work's environment. Personally, the expressive simplicity captures my gaze. The work remains relevant as a comment on mortality versus artistic practice. Editor: Ultimately, the convergence of craft, labor, and legacy speaks to the piece’s complex story. Thank you for discussing.