Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington (Plate 7: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras) 1725 - 1730

"Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington" was etched by William Hogarth, likely in the 1720s, as an illustration for Samuel Butler's satirical poem "Hudibras." Hogarth, living in a rapidly modernizing London, often critiqued social mores through his art. Here, he depicts a "skimmington ride," a ritual shaming common in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly targeting those believed to have upset the social order, such as people suspected of domestic abuse or adultery. The skimmington mocks and punishes those who deviated from expected gender roles and behaviors. This print invites us to consider the role of public humiliation in maintaining social norms and the precarious position of those who defy those norms. What does it mean to be policed by your community? How do gender and class intersect in these forms of social regulation? Hogarth’s critical eye encourages us to reflect on the power dynamics embedded in everyday life.