Portret van John Wolcot 1787

Charles Howard Hodges created this portrait of John Wolcot, also known as Peter Pindar, using mezzotint, a printmaking process that yields rich tonal values. Wolcot, a physician turned satirist, challenged the conventions of his time through biting wit and social commentary. The portrait captures Wolcot in a moment of contemplation, hand to his face, his gaze directed upwards. This pose, along with his powdered wig and ruffled cuffs, speak to the social norms of the late 18th century, a period marked by rigid class structures and performative elegance. Wolcot, through his satirical writings, often skewered these very affectations, positioning himself as an outsider critiquing the establishment. Consider how Hodges, as the artist, and Wolcot, as the subject, engaged with the societal expectations of their era, one through visual representation and the other through literary subversion. This portrait invites us to reflect on the power of satire as a tool for social critique.