A Harlot's Progress, Plate 2

A Harlot's Progress, Plate 2 by William Hogarth, dating from 1732, is a pivotal work in the artist’s seminal narrative print series detailing the rise and fall of Moll Hackabout. Executed using the challenging process of etching and engraving, this piece exemplifies the power of early 18th-century satirical prints used to critique societal norms. Following the protagonist’s arrival in London, this plate documents her success as a mistress, contrasting her fashionable surroundings with the moral corruption inherent in her new lifestyle.

The setting is Moll’s luxuriously furnished apartment, a location designed to showcase Hogarth’s detailed observation of Georgian domesticity. Moll is observed in the act of entertaining, though her life of ease is clearly maintained by her wealthy protector, seated nearby at an elaborately set breakfast table. The composition includes several figures, reflecting the social environment of the time, including other women and several men involved in the domestic scene. A Black servant attends to the needs of the women, underscoring the era's social stratification.

Hogarth embeds visual satire throughout the work. Most famously, a small, dressed monkey sits attending to the scene, often interpreted as a symbol of mimicking folly and vanity. The use of the etching and engraving technique allows for the fine crosshatching necessary to depict the intricate textures of the furnishings and costumes. This specific impression is categorized as the fourth state of four, indicating the progressive adjustments Hogarth made to the plate before issuing the final series. This crucial early example of British prints documenting the moralizing history of Moll is part of the extensive collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.