Hanging by the Thumbs (Modern Military Punishments)

Hanging by the Thumbs (Modern Military Punishments) by William Hogarth is a striking etching created during the period spanning 1720 to 1779. As a master British printmaker, Hogarth utilized the etching medium to produce works that served both as artistic statements and pointed social critiques, allowing for the wide dissemination of his observations on 18th-century life.

The composition focuses explicitly on the severity of traditional military punishments. The scene captures an active and crowded environment, likely a barracks or parade ground, where discipline is being meted out to offending men. The title refers to the painful technique of forcing subjects to stand or hang solely by their thumbs, a cruel but documented method used to enforce compliance within the armed forces. Hogarth meticulously details the environment, populating the space with numerous soldiers, officers overseeing the proceedings, and several horses nearby, emphasizing the institutional and public nature of the punitive action.

This print serves as a powerful commentary on the methods used to maintain control within the standing military establishment of the era. Hogarth’s unflinching portrayal of institutional discipline places the work among his most insightful social critiques. This historically valuable piece is classified as a print within the classification of graphic arts and is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Prints like these provide researchers and students access to visual evidence regarding historical subjects, including 18th-century military life and legal enforcement.