The Five Orders of Periwigs

The Five Orders of Periwigs is a celebrated etching created by William Hogarth in 1761. This print, executed in the second state of two, showcases Hogarth’s signature skill in combining detailed technique with cutting social satire. Classified definitively as a masterful print, the work lampoons the rigid social structures and increasingly elaborate fashion trends defining the Georgian era.

Hogarth utilizes the formal structure of an architectural textbook to deliver a biting caricature aimed primarily at contemporary fashion and the extravagant wigs worn by both high-society men and women. The artist systematically classifies five distinct types of periwigs—from the modest "Episcopal" to the towering "Composite"—mirroring the classical orders of architecture (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, etc.). By treating frivolous adornments with pseudo-academic seriousness, Hogarth highlights the perceived absurdity of 18th-century English society's obsession with status symbols and excessive hairdressing.

Though published late in his career, this satire remains a powerful example of Hogarth's capacity to critique culture through his visual prints. The detailed execution and sharp wit cemented its status as an important artifact in the history of British graphic art. This notable etching, dated 1761, is held in the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as both an astute historical document of fashion and a timeless example of visual caricature from the public domain of 18th-century London.