The Marriage Contract
- Artist
- William Hogarth
- Date
- c.1743 - c.1745
- Style
- Rococo
- Genre
- Genre painting
- Location
- National Gallery
William Hogarth's The Marriage Contract (c.1743–1745) is the first in his satirical series Marriage A-la-Mode. Crafted in oil on canvas, the work exemplifies genre painting with its detailed depiction of the superficiality and greed surrounding aristocratic marriage arrangements. The Rococo style's ornate, playful elements contrast sharply with the moral undertones, highlighting societal folly. Hogarth’s keen narrative captures the tensions of a marriage driven by monetary and social motives, setting the tone for this sharp satire on contemporary customs.
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