A Harlot's Progress: Plate 4

Date1822

Designed and engraved by William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)

MediumEtching with line engraving

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1972-409,6

DescriptionLower margin reads: "Plate 4. / W.m Hogarth inv.t pinx.t et sculp."
Label TextA Harlot's Progress is a six-part series by William Hogarth was the first of his popular "modern moral subjects" which depicted current social issues and topics of great interest through visual narratives. A Harlot's Progress tells the story of Moll Hackabout, a young woman who is coerced or willingly enters into an ill-fated life of prostitution. In this fourth scene, Moll is condemed to forced labor at Bridewell Prison in London where her punsihment for prostitution is to beat hemp. She is still wearing her finery, which a woman standing behind her mocks Moll's expensive clothing given the situation.

Though printed from Hogarth's original copperplate (with some strengthening), this print is from the James Heath edition, published after 1822. Hogarth's copperplates were re-used after his death by his widow, Jane until her death in 1789. They were sold to the print publisher John Boydell who published them until his death in 1818. In 1822, James Heath was in possession of the plates and published at least four bound editions of the plates. For more, see Ronald Paulson, Hogarth's Graphic Works, Third Revised Edition (London: Print Room, 1989), pp. 20-21.