The Second Stage of Cruelty (The Four Stages of Cruelty)

The Second Stage of Cruelty (The Four Stages of Cruelty), executed by William Hogarth in 1751, is the second plate in his highly influential series illustrating the corrosive effects of casual violence on a young man's character. This work, a complex etching and engraving, exemplifies the artist’s commitment to social commentary through sequential visual narratives aimed at promoting public morality in 18th-century London.

The composition centers on a busy street scene where Tom Nero, the cruel child from the previous stage, has grown into a brutish young man. Hogarth depicts Nero mercilessly beating a collapsed hired horse, surrounded by a chaotic mixture of indifferent and concerned onlookers. The print integrates details of everyday urban life: various men are engaged in work, while groups of children observe the violence, learning potentially destructive lessons. A drover guides a flock of sheep through the thoroughfare, adding to the sense of urban disorder and emphasizing how Tom's cruelty disrupts the public sphere. The meticulous details achieved in this specific print, noted as the first state of two, demonstrate Hogarth’s masterful command of line work and tonal contrasts necessary for successful mass-market publications.

Published during a period of rising concern regarding animal abuse and public disorder, Hogarth intended these prints to serve as cheap, accessible visual deterrents for the working classes. The series contrasts sharply with his earlier satirical works by adopting a dark, didactic tone, reflecting the inevitable fate of the cruel protagonist. This historical The Second Stage of Cruelty print, a significant example of 18th-century British moralizing art, currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.