Plate One, from A Rake's Progress

Plate One, from A Rake's Progress by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, is the foundational work of the artist's famous eight-part sequential moral drama. Created in 1735, this powerful social satire was realized using the meticulous techniques of etching and engraving in black on ivory laid paper. The initial image introduces the protagonist, Tom Rakewell, a hapless heir who has just inherited a fortune from his recently deceased, miserly father.

Hogarth’s pioneering work established the “modern moral subject,” a type of narrative art deeply rooted in the social and cultural life of 18th-century England. Unlike traditional history painting, the artist chose to depict contemporary metropolitan life, using visual storytelling to critique moral failure and the corrosive effects of inherited wealth. In this opening scene, Rakewell is immediately surrounded by a chaotic scene of creditors, sycophants, and opportunistic tradesmen eager to exploit his inexperience. The details Hogarth provides, such as the inventory of the late father's meager belongings and the hastily abandoned mourning clothes, sharply contrast the wealth amassed by the father with the immediate profligacy of the son.

The influential series was first realized as paintings but achieved widespread distribution and fame through these easily reproducible prints. The mass accessibility of these prints secured Hogarth’s reputation as a master visual satirist whose work directly addressed the complex moral questions of the Georgian era. This significant work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a landmark visual narrative that significantly influenced subsequent generations of artists and writers, high-quality reproductions of this historic piece are widely available in the public domain.