Artwork
Humours of an Election
Humours of an Election is a print by the Romanticist artist William Hogarth. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The 1757 print titled *Humours of an Election* captures a bustling street scene in which political operatives from the Tory and Whig parties vie for a farmer’s vote. Set outside a tavern, the image records the overt exchange of money and promises, illustrating the transactional nature of eighteenth‑century electoral politics.
Subject & Meaning
At the work’s centre, a solitary farmer is approached by representatives of both parties, each offering a bribe to secure his support. The composition underscores the corruption and patronage that characterised elections of the period, using the farmer as a stand‑in for the broader electorate vulnerable to manipulation.
Technique & Style
The engraving translates William Hogarth’s 1755 oil painting *Canvassing for Votes* into a detailed line print on paper. Fine hatching and cross‑hatching create texture and depth, while careful shading produces a chiaroscuro effect that highlights the central figures and conveys a sense of tension amid the surrounding bustle.
History & Provenance
Originally issued as one of 217 plates in a larger illustrated volume, the print was later detached and circulated as an individual work. Its creation followed Hogarth’s earlier canvas, serving both as a satirical commentary and as a commercial product for a market interested in political caricature.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraver, satirist, cartoonist and writer.
