John Bulls Progress Possibly 1793

This is James Gillray's "John Bull's Progress," an etching from late 18th-century England, a time of political turbulence, especially with the French Revolution looming. Gillray uses caricature to comment on the social and political climate. The image is divided into four scenes, each representing a stage in John Bull's journey. "John Bull" was a national personification of Great Britain. Initially, he is content and prosperous, surrounded by his family. But as he gets involved in war, he is led astray; the consequences of war are felt by his family, who are left in poverty and fear. Gillray critiques the warmongering of the British government. "John Bull's Progress" speaks to the social conditions of its time, highlighting the economic and emotional toll of war on ordinary families. By studying period newspapers, political pamphlets, and economic data, we can understand the impact of such images on contemporary audiences. Ultimately, art provides a window into the complex interplay between power, society, and individual experience.