A Rake's Progress, Plate 1

A Rake's Progress, Plate 1, created by William Hogarth in 1735, marks the beginning of his famed narrative series chronicling the moral and financial ruin of the protagonist, Tom Rakewell. This dramatic print, executed through the demanding process of etching and engraving, specifically represents the third known state of three. As one of the preeminent social commentators of the Georgian era, Hogarth used the medium of the serialized print to disseminate powerful and immediate satires to a wide audience.

The scene opens in the chaos following Rakewell’s inheritance of a substantial fortune from his recently deceased, miserly father. Hogarth meticulously details the transformation of the house and the immediate influx of figures surrounding the newly wealthy man. The work portrays a diverse mix of men and women; among them are working staff demanding back wages, tailors and tradesmen presenting bills, and opportunistic figures ready to exploit the new wealth. The artist immediately establishes the central conflict by depicting Rakewell attempting to pay off his pregnant fiancée, Sarah Young, emphasizing his callous disregard for responsibility and his quick descent into immorality.

This piece functions as both an artistic commentary and a cultural document, critiquing the rapid social shifts and moral laxity common among the newly rich in 18th-century London. Hogarth’s mastery of line work allows for expressive detail across the crowded scene, cementing the series A Rake's Progress as a touchstone of visual storytelling. As an influential 18th-century printmaker, Hogarth produced impressions of high quality. Today, this impression is held in the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.