The artwork, titled “Suicide of the Countess,” was created by William Hogarth around the years 1743 to 1745 using oil on canvas. This genre painting, which belongs to the Rococo art movement, is part of the series “Mariage à la Mode.” The artwork boasts dimensions of 68.5 x 89 cm and is currently housed at the National Gallery in London, UK.
In this poignant scene, Hogarth depicts the aftermath of a tragic event within a well-appointed room. The focus of the composition is the figure of the Countess, who lies lifeless in a chair, her pallor and limp body indicating her demise. A heartbroken mother tenderly clutches her young child while a servant aims to revive her mistress. Surrounding the Countess, various individuals react with expressions ranging from shock to grief. An overturned chair and a disorderly table, complete with a skeletal and famished dog, add to the somber and chaotic atmosphere, hinting at the Countess’s despondent state that led to her ultimate act. The window opens onto the view of a busy city street, contrasting the sorrow within the room with the mundanity of daily life outside. The painting is a somber reflection on the hollowness of status and the personal tragedies that often lurk behind a facade of wealth and nobility.
