A Rake's Progress, Plate 1

A Rake's Progress, Plate 1 by William Hogarth, created in 1735, is the crucial opening scene of his seminal narrative series detailing the moral downfall of Tom Rakewell. Classified as a print, this influential work was executed using the sophisticated techniques of etching and engraving, specifically representing the third state of three. Hogarth, a master of satirical social commentary, utilized such printed series to disseminate his moralizing tales widely across Georgian England, establishing his reputation as a visual storyteller who documented contemporary life.

The composition is set within a richly detailed interior, depicting the moment young Rakewell inherits his miserly father’s wealth. A flurry of activity surrounds the new heir: lawyers, tradesmen, and aggrieved women clamor for attention and compensation. The crowded scene is dense with figures, including several working men engaged in legal or financial transactions, all eager to profit from the young man's sudden fortune. Hogarth uses this initial plate to immediately establish the theme of moral corruption and the perils of quick wealth, juxtaposing the solemnity of death with the ensuing chaos of greed. The varied placement of men and women within the composition highlights the broad social network implicated in Rakewell's immediate dissipation of funds.

This specific impression of the print is held in the renowned collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As one of Hogarth’s most important narrative sequences, the complete set remains a fundamental study in 18th-century British social history and visual satire. Due to the age and significance of these originals, high-resolution reproductions of many Hogarth prints are frequently found in the public domain, ensuring this pivotal work remains accessible for global scholarly study.