A Rake's Progress, Plate 6

A Rake's Progress, Plate 6 by William Hogarth, executed in 1735, is a powerful visual narrative that chronicles the decline of the fictional heir, Tom Rakewell. This particular impression is an engraving, representing the third state of three, showcasing the precision and moral severity characteristic of the artist’s famous print series. Plate 6 is one of the most dramatic scenes, depicting Rakewell’s catastrophic downfall at a notorious London gaming house.

The detailed setting is crucial to the work: the chaotic interiors of the gambling den are filled with desperate men consumed by high-stakes play. Hogarth utilizes sharp contrasts and a crowded composition to emphasize the frenzy, desperation, and moral blindness associated with excessive gambling. Rakewell, having squandered his inheritance and already pawned his possessions, is shown slumped in despair on the floor. Violence and disorder reign in the background as figures argue vehemently. Even the frantic dogs fighting in the foreground act as visual echoes, mirroring the human desperation and highlighting the societal disorder Hogarth sought to critique.

This work serves as a significant document of eighteenth-century English social history. Hogarth’s mastery of the medium allowed him to widely disseminate complex moral satires through prints, influencing both high art and popular culture. This definitive impression of A Rake's Progress is held in the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its historical importance and age, various prints of this compelling narrative are frequently available for study within the public domain.