The Idle Prentice 1747

"The Idle Prentice, return'd from Sea, & in a Garret with a common Proftitute" (1747) is an etching and engraving by William Hogarth, part of a series of six prints that satirize the moral failings of 18th-century London society. The image depicts a young man, likely a sailor, and a woman in a squalid garret, suggesting the consequences of idleness and debauchery. The scene is teeming with details: a broken window, a fireplace with a broken grate, and a bed in disarray. Hogarth masterfully utilizes light and shadow to create a sense of despair and moral decline, highlighting the plight of the "Idle Prentice." The etching is a poignant commentary on social issues of the time, offering viewers a glimpse into the struggles of the working class in 18th-century England.