Hudibras Wooing the Widow (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 13)

Hudibras Wooing the Widow (Seventeen Small Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, no. 13) by William Hogarth is a significant early work created between 1721 and 1726. This print is one of a series illustrating Samuel Butler’s lengthy satirical poem Hudibras, which sharply mocked religious extremism and political hypocrisy in 17th-century Britain. Hogarth utilized the detailed and precise techniques of etching and engraving to translate Butler's literary satire into a durable graphic form, showcasing his emerging mastery as an English visual storyteller.

The scene captures the awkward courtship attempt of the zealous protagonist toward the resistant Widow. The setting is a bustling street scene, providing a backdrop of typical London architecture. Detailed buildings frame the encounter, with prominent doorways and multiple windows suggesting the domestic sphere the Widow inhabits. The composition centers on the figures, highlighting the rigid formality of the man juxtaposed against the woman's dismissive posture. Peripheral elements, including a small dog observing the action near the figures, inject Hogarth's characteristic touch of mundane realism into the farcical narrative.

These small illustrations were key commercial commissions that helped establish Hogarth's reputation as a keen observer and satirist of English society. The success of these prints laid the groundwork for his future, more complex moralizing series. This specific impression of the etching and engraving resides in the extensive collection of European prints held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Reflecting its status as a historical artwork, high-quality images of this foundational piece of British art are frequently made available within the public domain, ensuring widespread study and appreciation of Hogarth’s satirical genius.