A Rake's Progress, Plate 1

A Rake's Progress, Plate 1 by William Hogarth, created in 1735, initiates the artist's seminal narrative series charting the moral decline of the protagonist, Tom Rakewell. This print, executed using the demanding techniques of etching and engraving, serves as Hogarth’s incisive commentary on contemporary British society and the social perils associated with sudden, undeserved wealth. The scene depicts Rakewell upon inheriting his deceased father's estate, setting the chaotic stage for his impending recklessness.

The composition immediately focuses on the frenzied transfer of property and obligation. Rakewell, centrally positioned and self-satisfied, is preoccupied with being measured for new, fashionable clothes while tradesmen and creditors clamor for payment. This plate explicitly details the intersection of various social classes, contrasting the frivolous young heir with the many working individuals whose livelihood depends on him, including lawyers, tailors, and a host of other professional Men and Women. A notable element is the appearance of a pregnant Sarah Young, whom Rakewell had previously seduced and promised marriage. The arrangement of figures underscores the financial and moral obligations Tom ignores as he prepares to transition into high society, foreshadowing his inevitable ruin detailed in subsequent prints.

Hogarth utilized etching for the rapid definition of the scene and refined the complex details through precise engraving, demonstrating his mastery of the printmaking process. This specific impression represents the first state of three, allowing scholars valuable insight into the developmental stages of the imagery before subsequent artistic revisions. As a significant example of 18th-century graphic satire, the work resides in the extensive collection of prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its foundational importance to art history, the series is widely distributed, and high-quality images of this work often circulate in the public domain.