A Rake's Progress: pl.5

A Rake's Progress: pl.5 by William Hogarth is a pivotal work in the artist's acclaimed 1735 narrative series, executed with mastery in etching and engraving. This print, part of the monumental set of eight plates, chronicles the moral and financial ruin of the dissolute heir, Tom Rakewell. Hogarth, a seminal British figure in the period spanning 1726 to 1750, pioneered the visual serial narrative known as the 'modern moral subject,' utilizing the reproductive power of prints to deliver biting social criticism to a wide audience.

Plate 5 illustrates Rakewell's most desperate measure to restore his depleted fortune: a mercenary marriage. Having exhausted his inheritance through gambling and profligate spending, he is shown marrying a grotesque, wealthy, and elderly woman in a scene rife with cynicism. Hogarth uses meticulous detail to emphasize the transactional nature of the union; the bride's devotion contrasts sharply with Rakewell’s misery and distraction, hinting at the further moral compromise inherent in his actions.

As an artist deeply engaged with the social realities of 18th-century London, Hogarth’s work functioned as a powerful commentary on consumerism, debt, and the folly of misplaced ambition. The work solidified his reputation as a master satirist whose visual literacy and dramatic staging influenced generations of graphic artists.

This piece, classified as one of the most significant fine art prints of the era, resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The accessibility provided by printmaking allowed Hogarth's works to circulate widely, defining contemporary views on morality and class structure in British culture. Today, as works from the period 1726 to 1750 often enter the public domain, reproductions of A Rake's Progress continue to offer insight into the historical and artistic genius of Hogarth.