Hudibras and the Lawyer (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no.16) 1721 - 1726

William Hogarth created this etching titled "Hudibras and the Lawyer" as one of seventeen small illustrations for Samuel Butler's satirical poem, "Hudibras." Published in the 1720s, it's a window into the social and political tensions of 18th-century England. Hogarth, known for his moralizing series, aimed to critique the corruption and hypocrisy he saw in society. Here, the contrast between the learned lawyer and the common man, Hudibras, speaks volumes about class and power. We see the lawyer, surrounded by books, literally elevated in his chair, while Hudibras stands before him, hat in hand, almost begging. The emotional tension is palpable; the power dynamic is at play. Hogarth, through his detailed engraving, invites us to consider the relationship between those who uphold the law and those who are subject to it. Hogarth uses these scenes to question the supposed moral and intellectual superiority of the legal profession. These illustrations offer a narrative commentary on social injustice, using humor to provoke thought and, perhaps, inspire change.