Plate six, from A Harlot's Progress

Plate six, from A Harlot's Progress, by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, represents the devastating conclusion of the artist's seminal narrative series. Executed in 1732, this powerful work is a copperplate print, a medium Hogarth utilized skillfully to produce widely distributed images. The technique allowed the artist to engrave intricate details, maximizing the dramatic and satirical impact of the scene for a broad audience across 18th-century England.

This concluding plate depicts the tragic death of the protagonist, Moll Hackabout, and the chaotic, irreverent wake that follows. Hogarth criticizes the moral decay of metropolitan society by focusing on the callous behavior of the attendees, who are more concerned with drink, inheritance, and petty squabbles than solemn reflection on the deceased. The dramatic use of shadow and composition emphasizes the pervasive indifference and moral squalor that surrounded Moll’s demise. The narrative power of the six plates established Hogarth’s reputation for creating modern moral subjects, designed not just for artistic appreciation but for social instruction and reform.

The print exemplifies Hogarth's role as a pioneer of narrative sequential art in England. This impactful piece is part of the extensive collection held by the Art Institute of Chicago, preserving its historical and cultural significance. As a crucial piece of 18th-century British art, this work, along with the other pieces in the A Harlot's Progress series, is frequently examined today, often accessible to scholars and the public through resources that recognize its status as a vital part of the public domain.