A Harlot's Progress

A Harlot’s Progress is a series of six paintings by William Hogarth that tell a story about a young woman’s rise and fall in 18th-century London. It follows Moll Hackabout, who leaves her rural home to seek fortune but ends up trapped in vice and poverty due to her choices and societal pressures. The paintings depict her journey from innocence to degradation, highlighting themes of morality, social corruption, and the consequences of vice. Hogarth used this narrative to criticize social issues and comment on the dangers faced by vulnerable individuals in urban settings.