Cunicularii, or The Wise Men of Godliman in Consultation

William Hogarth

National Gallery of Art

This monochrome illustration depicts a chaotic scene with several figures positioned around a bed. The central figure is a woman lying on the bed, partially covered with a sheet. She appears to be giving birth with the assistance of others around her. To her left, a seated woman dressed in a flowing gown supports her back, while to her right, a bearded man leans toward her, pulling on the sheet. In the background, two men dressed in 18th-century styled coats with long wigs observe the scene. A few more figures stand in the corner, partially inside a doorway. Scattered across the floor are multiple small, rabbit-like creatures. The setting is an enclosed room with curtains and a paneled ceiling, adding to the atmosphere of the scene.