Plate four, from A Harlot's Progress

Plate four, from A Harlot's Progress, is a powerful social satire created by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, in 1732. This pivotal work is an exemplary piece of eighteenth-century graphic art, executed using the technique of engraving in black on ivory laid paper. Hogarth pioneered the sequential narrative in his groundbreaking series, A Harlot's Progress, utilizing six scenes to chronicle the moral and physical degradation of the protagonist, Moll Hackabout. The series, which functions as both a warning and a bitter commentary on urban life, established Hogarth’s international reputation for visual storytelling and moral critique across England.

As the fourth installment in the dramatic sequence, this print typically depicts a moment of critical escalation in Moll’s fate, often showing her facing justice or creditors, highlighting the unforgiving social structures of Georgian London. Hogarth's narrative intention was to satirize the hypocrisy of the elite while simultaneously exposing the harsh realities faced by the vulnerable working class. The detailed execution possible in the engraving medium allowed the artist to distribute these crucial images widely, ensuring their broad impact as influential social commentary.

Classified firmly within the history of prints, this work remains a cornerstone of 18th-century British art. It showcases Hogarth's enduring genius for combining high art techniques with populist, accessible subject matter. This English masterwork is part of the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historically significant piece, high-quality images and prints of this iconic series are frequently made available, contributing significantly to the public domain of graphic art history and scholarship.