Columbus Breaking the Egg

1752

William Hogarth

Associated Names
William Hogarth

Artist, English, 1697 - 1764

The image shows six individuals from the waist up gathered around a table. The individuals are sitting or leaning casually, engaging with each other. They have a variety of facial features and expressive expressions. They have mid-length to long hair with historical style clothing. The figures are dressed similarly, and there is a plate with what appears to be eggs on the table. A folded document or cloth is also visible. One man is gesturing towards the others. The background features a draped cloth and a fluted column.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 19.8 × 20.2 cm (7 13/16 × 7 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1944.5.103

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Paulson 1965, no. 194

Associated Artworks

See all 114 artworks
The image depicts an engraving of a seated man facing slightly to the right with his body turned slightly to the left. The man has prominent facial features, including large eyes, a prominent nose, and a closed mouth. He wears a fur hat, a dark coat, and a buttoned shirt with a white collar. A pug dog sits beside him, facing the viewer. Objects like books, an artist's palette, brushes, and a cloth are scattered around them. In the background is a draped curtain, and at the bottom is the inscription "Gulielmus Hogarth."

Gulielmus Hogarth

William Hogarth

1748

Collected Works of William Hogarth

William Hogarth

1697

This is a drawing of character profiles and caricatures. The drawing consists of profiles of faces depicted in a stylized manner on one side, and as exaggerated caricatures on the other side. Varying facial expressions and features are shown, with a row dividing the characters and caricatures to illustrate the difference through levels of exaggeration.

Characters and Caricaturas

William Hogarth

1743

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1965

  • Paulson, Ronald. Hogarth's Graphic Works. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965. Rev. ed., 1970.

Wikidata ID

Q65026954

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