Plate two, from A Harlot's Progress

Plate two, from A Harlot's Progress by William Hogarth English, 1697-1764, is a pivotal image in the artist’s seminal series of six engraved prints exploring the moral decline of a young woman named Moll Hackabout. Executed in 1732, this impression is an expert example of line engraving, rendered in rich black ink on ivory laid paper, showcasing Hogarth’s sophisticated command of the reproductive print medium.

The series marked a dramatic shift in English art, establishing the genre of the “modern moral subject” by depicting contemporary London society rather than historical or mythological scenes. Plate two depicts Moll shortly after her arrival, having successfully transitioned from an innocent country girl to a wealthy courtesan maintained by an affluent Jewish merchant. The setting is her lavish, cluttered apartment, symbolizing her fleeting material success achieved through compromise. Hogarth (1697-1764) fills the scene with satirical details—a monkey in the corner mocks human vanity, and the chaotic arrangement of luxury goods critiques the rising consumerism and moral ambiguity prevalent in Georgian England.

By utilizing the widespread accessibility of prints, Hogarth ensured his detailed, sequential narrative reached a broad audience across the populace of England. The resulting fame and financial success of A Harlot’s Progress established his reputation as the preeminent visual satirist of his era. The narrative power and technical brilliance of this work make it an essential artifact of 18th-century social commentary. This impression of Plate two, from A Harlot’s Progress, is preserved in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.