William Hogarth, Four Prints of an Election

Ian Gordon (Anglia Ruskin University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Domains

Political Science

Dates

First circulation or publication 1755 - 1758

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Comedy
Non-fictional prose
Satire

Resources

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Hogarth’s four great paintings, and subsequent prints, of

An Election

were initially prompted by the General Election of April 1754, and specifically the contest for seats in Oxfordshire. However, although the four paintings, and especially the first,

An Election Entertainment

, grew out of this particular contest, Hogarth expanded the series into a satire on corrupt electoral processes in Britain generally rather than one on a particular occasion, so that by the time the series was complete it included references to events after the 1754 election and outside Oxfordshire. The set of four paintings and prints forms a satire on corruption in the organisation of society at large rather than on a moral failing in an individual person. In this way they have more in common with a single…

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3834 words

Citation: Gordon, Ian. "Four Prints of an Election". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 November 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5072, accessed 24 November 2024.]