Key with List of Performers to: The Indian Emperor, or, The Conquest of Mexico, Act 4, scene 4 1791

Editor: So, here we have William Hogarth’s etching from 1731, titled "Key with List of Performers to: The Indian Emperor, or, The Conquest of Mexico, Act 4, scene 4." It’s fascinating to see such a detailed record of a performance. The print style gives it a documentary feel, like a news illustration of its time. I wonder, what details jump out to you when you look at this, what layers am I missing? Curator: Oh, layers aplenty, my dear! It’s not just reportage; it's Hogarth being Hogarth. Notice how he depicts the audience almost as critically as the performers. The theatrical presentation itself looks rather stiff and formalized, whilst the audience, labelled in the print, seems a hotbed of intrigue and social commentary. Can you feel the subtle satirical poke at the elite’s pastimes and the almost absurd presentation? Editor: I see what you mean about the satirical elements - Hogarth seems to have included it as a reflection of society in the work. Do you think he’s judging their taste, or perhaps just the entire ritual of theatre-going at the time? Curator: A little bit of both, I fancy. Hogarth loved to hold a mirror up to society. Theatre was a stage both literally and metaphorically; the powerful attending performances became part of the spectacle themselves. It's almost as if the ‘real’ drama happens in the audience! And note the "Key with List of Performers"; this is insider information meant for others 'in the know,' deepening the plot! What did *they* make of *the play*, dear Editor, is the key! Editor: That is fascinating to consider the audience as part of a 'performance'. I hadn't considered it on a meta level. Thank you for shining the light on those layers for me! Curator: It's delightful to unlock those hidden gems together! Art, just like theatre, is all about shared experience, you know?