Browse Exhibits (1 total)

The 18^th century was a golden age of satire when writers, artists, and thinkers used irony and exaggeration to critique political power. Utilizing sharp wit and clever mockery, satirical artists exposed corruption, challenged social hierarchies, and influenced public opinion. By drawing from some of the most influential 18^th-century satirical works, this digital exhibition highlights the enduring power of satire and its ability to shape discourse and provoke thought. 

A Woman Swearing a Child to a Grave Citizen by William Hogarth was used as the header for this digital exhibit to serve as a brief but meaningful introduction to the nature of 18^th-century satire. Hogarth's work captures the spirit of satirical art by exposing hypocrisy and moral decay beneath the facade of respectability. In the art piece, the "grave citizen" is portrayed as visibly uncomfortable and skeptical as the woman, with exaggerated gestures and expressions, attempts to pass her child off as legitimate (or born inside of marriage) and therefore has a rightful, respectable status. This image sets the tone and embodies the social pretensions of satire through humor, irony, and exaggeration.