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

"Hudibras Encounters the Skimmington (Plate 7: Illustrations to Samuel Butler's Hudibras)" is a powerful etching and engraving created by William Hogarth between 1725 and 1730. This print forms the seventh plate in Hogarth’s acclaimed series visualizing Samuel Butler’s lengthy satirical epic poem, Hudibras. The comprehensive set of prints showcases Hogarth's early mastery of illustrative satire and his ability to translate dense literary narrative into compelling visual comedy.

The scene depicts the chaotic public spectacle known as the Skimmington, a traditional English form of communal humiliation often aimed at married couples who violated conventional gender roles. Hogarth captures the riotous energy of the procession, showing numerous men participating in the display, many riding horses or makeshift animals. The focus is on the confrontation between the misguided Puritan knight, Hudibras, and the rowdy crowd. Hogarth meticulously integrates details of popular culture, including the unusual assortment of musical instruments employed by the participants to heighten the chaotic din and atmosphere of mockery.

As a highly influential British printmaker, Hogarth utilized the precise lines afforded by etching and engraving to capture the nuanced social dynamics and absurdities of contemporary English life. This significant early work, which foreshadows his later moralizing series like A Harlot's Progress, is recognized for its historical documentation of 18th-century customs. This important example of graphic satire resides within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and due to its age and historical importance, high-quality images of this print are frequently available in the public domain for study and reference.