“The Polling,” painted by William Hogarth between 1754 and 1755, is an oil on canvas artwork that measures 101.5 by 127 centimeters. As part of the Rococo art movement, this genre painting belongs to Hogarth’s “Election” series. The composition portrays a lively and intricate scene from an election polling station, capturing the multifaceted nature of 18th-century electoral processes.
In the artwork, a bustling assembly of figures is depicted participating in various activities associated with the polling process. This scene unfolds at a wooden platform, prominently featuring two flags, one blue and one red, signifying the competing political factions. The voters, ranging from the infirm being carried to wealthy individuals arriving in elaborate carriages, are shown in animated discourse and action. Through his vivid and detailed portrayal, Hogarth illustrates the fervor and occasional disorder of the electoral event, using the complexity of human interaction to provide a commentary on the political practices of his time. The background features a bridge and distant buildings, grounding the lively foreground scene within a broader societal context. This intricate tableau serves as a critical yet humorous reflection on the nature of electoral proceedings in 18th-century England.
