Plate five, from A Harlot's Progress

Plate five, from A Harlot's Progress by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, is a pivotal image in the artist’s groundbreaking 1732 series of narrative prints. Executed as a finely detailed engraving in black on ivory laid paper, this work demonstrates Hogarth’s sophisticated command of the reproductive medium, which allowed him to disseminate his "modern moral subjects" widely across England. This six-part pictorial narrative chronicles the tragic decline of the young protagonist, Moll Hackabout, from innocent country girl to victim of prostitution, highlighting the social dangers and moral hypocrisy rampant in Georgian London.

As the penultimate image in the series, plate five typically depicts Moll in the depths of despair, imprisoned within a workhouse or prison like Bridewell, having contracted venereal disease. Hogarth uses the scene to illustrate institutional neglect and the harsh, inescapable consequences of poverty and vice. Unlike traditional historical painting, Hogarth directed his satirical lens toward contemporary issues, establishing a powerful new form of visual storytelling that served as both entertainment and a stinging social critique.

This influential print is housed in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, preserving the legacy of the artist’s seminal achievement. Works like A Harlot’s Progress established Hogarth as the foremost chronicler of his era, influencing generations of satirists and graphic artists. The accessibility of these early English prints has ensured their ongoing study; high-quality images from the 1732 series are frequently available in the public domain, allowing global appreciation of this foundational example of satirical art.