William was "fortunate" to be born into a poor family in London in 1697. His father struggled to earn a living, alternately publishing unpopular textbooks and opening literary cafes that no one frequented. Bold ideas could not save him from debtor's prison. Six of the Hogarth children died before reaching ten years old. William proved to be a resilient child, retaining a strong and stubborn character throughout his life. At school, Hogarth discovered an aptitude for visual arts, which allowed him to become an apprentice to the silver engraver Ellis Gamble. Drawing flowers and coats-of-arms in a classical manner seemed foolish to Hogarth. However, the time spent in the workshop defined the direction of his creative work. Hogarth began creating his own engravings, many of which were comical in nature and satirized the vices of English society. His engravings became veritable theatrical productions. The satirical series of miniatures "An Election," executed as paintings, also proved controversial. The events depicted on the four canvases can be described with one word – a spectacle. Numerous people are present, along with details such as musical instruments that convey the clamor of the crowd. Of course, to fully understand all the meanings embedded in these paintings, one would have needed to be born at the time or possess a very thorough understanding of it. However, even a modern viewer can find something to laugh at. Most often, William Hogarth constructs satire through the juxtaposition of the painting's title with what is depicted within it. It is also interesting that some researchers consider Hogarth to be one of the founders of a genre now familiar – the comic strip.