Spotprent op Warren Hastings, 1788 Possibly 1788

James Gillray created this print of Warren Hastings in 1788, now held at the Rijksmuseum, using etching. The scene, titled "The Westminster Hunt," depicts Hastings riding an ass, whip in hand, leading a pack of figures depicted as dogs, into Westminster Hall. The dog, often a symbol of loyalty, here becomes a tool of satire. This imagery can be traced back to ancient Rome, where the "domini canes," or hounds of the Lord, guarded temples, but also evokes something older, tapping into a primal fear and respect for animal instincts and the power of the hunt. Consider Anubis, the jackal-headed god guiding souls in ancient Egypt, reimagined here. There's a psychological tension in this portrayal. The hunt, a visceral, instinct-driven activity, echoes the relentless pursuit of justice or, perhaps, the hounds of guilt nipping at Hastings’ heels. The reduction of humans to animals elicits strong emotions, engaging viewers with questions of morality and judgment, played out on the subconscious stage of collective memory. Thus, the hounds persist—symbols of relentless pursuit, reappearing in art and culture across the ages, each time adapting to new contexts and meanings.