“The Madhouse,” an oil painting on canvas by William Hogarth, dates from 1732 to 1735 and is a significant work within the Rococo art movement. Measuring 62.5 by 75 centimeters, this genre painting forms part of the series known as “Rake’s Progress.”
The artwork portrays a dramatic and chaotic scene within a madhouse, capturing a range of human emotions and social contexts. The painting is populated by a diverse array of figures, each engaged in different activities or lost in their own world, adding to the overall sense of madness and disorder. In the center, a nearly naked man is sprawled on the floor, tended to by a woman, suggesting a moment of despair and vulnerability. Other figures, including a musician and various onlookers, seem to emphasize the stark contrast between normalcy and madness. The intricate details and the dark, moody palette evoke a sense of confinement and suffering, reflecting Hogarth’s critical view of contemporary social issues.
