Plate six, from A Harlot's Progress

Plate six, from A Harlot's Progress by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, serves as the devastating finale to the artist's groundbreaking narrative sequence. Executed in 1732, this work is a superb example of 18th-century English printmaking, specifically an intricate engraving rendered in black on ivory laid paper. This classification of art was intentionally chosen by Hogarth to ensure broad distribution, making the satirical moral tale widely accessible to critique corruption and vice in London society.

The series chronicles the tragic decline of M. Hackabout, culminating here in her squalid wake following her death from syphilis. Rather than depicting a scene of genuine sorrow, Hogarth employs sharp satire to expose the hypocrisy surrounding social mourning. The mourners are shown drinking, fighting, and carelessly engaging in petty theft, completely ignoring the significance of the deceased. This visual condemnation of 18th-century English manners was revolutionary, elevating narrative prints beyond simple illustration to powerful social commentary.

Alongside subsequent series like Marriage A-la-Mode, this cycle established Hogarth as the preeminent visual moralist of the era. His blend of complex, high-art composition with contemporary, popular subject matter ensured the series became a cornerstone of British cultural history. The historical significance and widespread influence of A Harlot’s Progress have ensured its position among the art available today as public domain resources. This key impression of Plate Six, detailing the final moments of Hogarth’s famed protagonist, resides in the distinguished permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, illustrating the enduring power of the 1697-1764 printmaker’s vision.