William Hogarth's Political Bias in the Print Series Humors of an Election
Disciplines
European History | History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology | Political History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
William Hogarth, a prominent political satirist, created a series of election prints entitled Humors of an Election to provide commentary on Whig politics of the 18th century, rather than an imprecise portrayal of the parliamentary atmosphere of 1754 in Oxford. Established literature on this topic has noted how Hogarth may have been politically ambiguous—however his themes of bribery and corruption may have driven the creation of the politically-charged election prints. Within examining the 1754 Parliamentary seat elections in Britain, as well as the artistic trends and other notable works of this time, research shows how Hogarth used these influences to create crude and unforgiving interpretations of Oxford election assemblies. Satirical caricatures, symbolism, and the dualism of political parties come together in harmony to create Hogarth’s observation of corruption and distinction of Whig brutalism.
Keywords: Hogarth, William; art; satire; politics; 18th-century; Britain; Oxford; Parliament; corruption; bias
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amy Dunagin
William Hogarth's Political Bias in the Print Series Humors of an Election
William Hogarth, a prominent political satirist, created a series of election prints entitled Humors of an Election to provide commentary on Whig politics of the 18th century, rather than an imprecise portrayal of the parliamentary atmosphere of 1754 in Oxford. Established literature on this topic has noted how Hogarth may have been politically ambiguous—however his themes of bribery and corruption may have driven the creation of the politically-charged election prints. Within examining the 1754 Parliamentary seat elections in Britain, as well as the artistic trends and other notable works of this time, research shows how Hogarth used these influences to create crude and unforgiving interpretations of Oxford election assemblies. Satirical caricatures, symbolism, and the dualism of political parties come together in harmony to create Hogarth’s observation of corruption and distinction of Whig brutalism.
Keywords: Hogarth, William; art; satire; politics; 18th-century; Britain; Oxford; Parliament; corruption; bias