DIVORCE A LA MODE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 203, 20 April 1932, Page 2

DIVORCE A LA MODE

IF WILLIAM HOGARTH HAD LIVED IN THESE DAYS WOULD HAVE BEEN AMUSED LONDON, March 24. What might have happened to Hogarth if he had lived to-day, was outlined by Mr. Heslceth Hubixard in a lectnre at the Royal Society of Arts. He described Hogarth as the founder of English painting. "He wonld certainly have poked fun at his fellow countrymen," said Mr. Hubbard, "and we slxould have loved him for it. To-day, when painters never think of painting anything but contemporary life, he would have been in his element. "Instead of £The Lottery,' he would paint fThe Irish Sweepstake,' 'Women Making Up in Public' wonld take the place of 'Strolling Actresses Dressing in a Barn.' 'Marriage a la Mode' would become 'Divorce a la Mode.' The dole would offer him an- . other 'Industry and Idleness.' For 'Beer Street' and 'Gin Lane' read 'Cocktail Court.' 'False' Perspective Exemplified' would, without alteration, summarise his reaction to modernistic art." Mr. Hubbard suggested that Hogarth would have found it hard to keep away from Elstree. The silent film, not the talkie, would have been his medium. "A Harlot's Progress," "A Rake's Progress," "Marriage a la Mode" — were not these the plots of more' than 75 per cent. of the films of to-day?