A Harlot's Progress, Plate 3

A Harlot's Progress, Plate 3 by William Hogarth, executed in 1732, is a pivotal etching and engraving that forms the third installment of the artist's groundbreaking narrative series detailing the tragic decline of the fictional character, Moll Hackabout. This sequence of six plates, known collectively as one of the most famous eighteenth-century British prints, established Hogarth as a preeminent visual satirist and moral commentator. This specific impression is designated as the first state of three, testifying to the early development and execution of the design.

The scene captures Moll in her squalid lodgings, a cluttered bedroom environment that vividly signifies her continued professional and social hardship. The composition details the transactional nature of her existence, often depicting interactions between the central women character and the often aggressive or exploitative men who frequent her quarters. Hogarth uses meticulous domestic details to advance his moralizing message; for instance, the presence of a scavenging cat or specific items of décor often reflect the moral chaos enveloping the protagonist.

Hogarth’s creation of A Harlot's Progress revolutionized printmaking in Britain, appealing directly to the rising middle class through the wide circulation and affordability of these narrative prints. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds this influential piece within its collection, recognizing its historical importance both as an early example of sequential art and as vital social commentary on 18th-century London life. As a historically significant artwork now in the public domain, this work remains crucial for understanding Georgian-era satire and the masterly technique employed by Hogarth.