William Hogarth, Masquerade ticket, etching, 41x46 cm

William Hogarth's etching published in 1789. Copy of a mock entrance ticket, it represents a masquerade of folly, with erotic emblems littering room; on the left there are a niche with Priapus, and antlers below; to the right there is a niche with Venus and Cupid pointing his arrow towards the crowd; we can see 'Lecherometers' on either side of room. At top centre we can see a large clock with the head of Heidegger, and hands inscribed 'Wit' and 'Impertinence', there are also a lion and unicorn lolling on either side, holding their tails in a masturbatory gesture.