{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O158353"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O158353/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY0144/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY0144/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BY0144","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O158353/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O158353","accessionNumber":"S.55-2008","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"The Laughing Audience","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This print is reproduced from a Hogarth engraving. Hogarth's work ranged from realistic portraiture to satirical sequential art, in an early comic strip-like style. Much of his work, though at times vicious, poked fun at contemporary politics and customs.\r\n\r\nIn this etching, the caricatured audience in the 'cheap seats' is watching an exaggeratedly funny play. They are separated from the orchestra by a wooden partition with large spikes to discourage them from climbing over, a practice that was not unheard of, particularly if the play was dull. The foreground shows three members of the orchestra, one of whom has removed his wig for comfort.\r\n\r\nBehind the laughing audience are two more smartly-dressed gentlemen who have paid for a box and so have more space. Neither shows any interest in what is happening on stage, or even in buying oranges, since both are evidently set on a different form of entertainment.\r\n\r\nThis print was originally used as a subscription ticket for prints of <i>Southwark Fair</i> and <i>A Rake's Progress</i>. It features Hogarth's signature and wax seal in the bottom right hand corner.","physicalDescription":"Print showing a theatre audience, with information about a subscription written below. Signed by Hogarth, and stamped with his wax seal in bottom right.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Hogarth, William","id":"A8514"},"association":{"text":"print-makers","id":"AAT25164"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"wax","id":"AAT14585"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving (printing process)","id":"AAT53225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Etching on paper, with wax seal and manuscript","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Audiences","id":"THES267738"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009BY0144"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES356588"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"Etchings","id":"AAT41365"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1735","earliest":"1735-01-01","latest":"1735-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"27","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"1735 Recd. Apr of Tho Grimston Esq / Half a Guinea being the first Payment for Nine Prints, 8 of Which / Represent a Rakes Progress & the 9th a Fair, Which I Promise to / Deliver when finsih'd on Receiving one Guinea more, the / Print of the Fair being Deliver'd at the time of Subscibing. / NB: the Rakes alone will be two Guineas after the time of Subscribing. / Wm Hogarth","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Etching by William Hogarth, 'The Laughing Audience'. Used as a subscription ticket for a set of  9 engravings, 8 of  'The Rake's Progress', 1 of a Fair.  Printed as a receipt of the first payment of half a guinea with, in ink, the date 24 April 1735 and the name of the  subscriber Thomas Grimstone, Esq. Sealed and signed by Hogarth.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"The Laughing Audience\r\n1733\r\n\r\nUntil the 19th century the theatre was a place to flirt, fight and socialise as well as to see a play. This print shows most of the audience in the pit enjoying the play. The men behind them in the more expensive box are showing no interest in the performance and rather more interest in the women selling oranges. \r\n\r\nEtching\r\nBy William Hogarth (1697–1764)\r\nHarry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard\r\nMuseum no. S.55-2008","date":{"text":"2008","earliest":"2008-01-01","latest":"2008-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["S.55-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"55","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"f.38-24"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN6256","2019LN8429","2019LP5763","2019LT4922","2019LU4238"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-27","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-03","availableToBook":true}}