The artwork “Taste in High Life,” created by William Hogarth, belongs to the Rococo art movement and is classified as an allegorical painting. This piece was crafted as a satirical commentary on the superficiality and excesses of the elite society of the time.
In the artwork, a scene unfolds in an opulent setting adorned with lavish drapery and intricate decor. At the center, three elegantly dressed figures are engaged in conversation, their postures and expressions imbued with exaggerated refinement and affectation. The female figure on the left appears to be showing something to the older woman at the center, who is seemingly besotted with admiration, while the man on the right gestures pointedly, his countenance displaying a sense of smug sophistication. Surrounding them are various objects and artworks symbolizing the misplaced priorities and eccentric tastes of high society. The overall composition serves as a pointed critique of the vanity and indulgent lifestyle of the upper class, rendered in Hogarth’s distinctive style.
