Before and After
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a man in fancy clothes helping a woman up from a messy floor. She’s wearing a loose dress, and he’s holding her hand. Around them, scattered books, a broken chair, and a small dog lie on the ground. On the wall hang two framed pictures, and a fancy curtain drapes to the side. The man’s confident pose contrasts with the woman’s slumped posture, hinting at a shift in their fortunes. The scene looks like a moral lesson—maybe about reckless spending or bad choices. Next, check out Hogarth, William to see how he used prints to tell stories.
