The Eighteenth Century in English Caricature

"The Eighteenth Century in English Caricature" by Selwyn Brinton is a study of the satirical art form of caricature in 18th-century England, and how it mirrored the period’s society, politics, and culture. The account looks at the contributions of important caricaturists, like William Hogarth, Henry William Bunbury, James Gillray, and Thomas Rowlandson, while giving a general overview of their artwork. The book starts by defining caricature, its history, and its role as satire, expressing human experiences through humor and critique. It shows how 18th-century England’s social and political environment helped caricature become popular. William Hogarth is presented as an important figure who used caricature for both humor and to teach moral lessons, preparing the reader to further examine the many caricaturists and their individual art styles presented throughout the analysis.