Hudibras Sallying Forth (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 1) 1721 - 1726

William Hogarth made this illustration for Samuel Butler’s comic poem *Hudibras*. It’s a satirical depiction of the English Civil War, a conflict deeply rooted in religious and political tensions. Here, we see two figures on horseback, setting out on their adventures. Hogarth's art often critiqued the social and political norms of his time, and in *Hudibras* he turns his gaze to the absurdities of war and the ideologies that fuel them. The characters are rendered with a kind of exaggerated awkwardness, highlighting the folly of their pursuits. Hogarth uses humor to confront serious questions about power, belief, and the human condition. He invites us to consider the ways in which we construct our own identities through ideology and action. With its sharp wit and keen observations, this work encourages us to reflect on the human capacity for both greatness and absurdity.