Gin Lane

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Artist/Maker	Hogarth, William (artist)
Place of origin	London (published)

A woman sits on a stair above a tavern; she is so drunk that she does not notice that her baby has fallen from her arms and is hurtling over the side of the stairs. Before her is an emaciated man holding a glass which has fallen on its side; his dog sits beside him. Behind them both is a street scene with signs indicating taverns, pawnbrokers and an undertaker's. Among this is a scene of disarray with people fighting.

Object details

Categories	Images Online Prints
Object type	Print
Title	Gin Lane (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques	Etching and engraving on paper Paper Etching Engraving
Brief description	Gin Lane. Satirical print by William Hogarth. Etching and engraving, 1751.
Physical description	A woman sits on a stair above a tavern; she is so drunk that she does not notice that her baby has fallen from her arms and is hurtling over the side of the stairs. Before her is an emaciated man holding a glass which has fallen on its side; his dog sits beside him. Behind them both is a street scene with signs indicating taverns, pawnbrokers and an undertaker's. Among this is a scene of disarray with people fighting.
Styles	British School Georgian
Copy number	3rd state
Marks and inscriptions	'Gin Lane. Design'd by W. Hogarth Publish'd according to Act of Parliamt Feb 1 1751. Price 1s.' (Lettered) 'Gin cursed Fiend, with Fury fraught, / Makes human Race a Prey; / It enters by a deadly Draught, And steals our Life away. / Virtue and Truth, drivin to Despair, / It's Rage compells to fly./ But cherishes with hellish Care, / Theft, Murder, Perjury. / Damn'd Cup! that on the Vitals preys, / That liquid Fire contains / Which Madness to the Heart conveys. / And rolls it thro' the Veins.' (Lettered below with verse)
Subjects depicted	Alcoholism Figures (Representations) Women Children (People by Age Group) Men Costume Cityscapes Buildings Pawnshops Taverns
Place depicted	London
Collection	Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number	F.118:87

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Record created	February 18, 2003
Record URL	https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74656/gin-lane-print-hogarth-william/

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