Plate five, from A Harlot's Progress c. 1732 - 1744

This etching, titled "Plate five, from A Harlot's Progress," was created by William Hogarth between 1732 and 1744. This artwork, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, depicts a scene from the "Harlot's Progress" series, a satire on the moral decline of a young woman who rises from poverty to infamy and ruin. The etching is notable for its use of detail and caricature, with the figures' expressions and gestures conveying Hogarth's message. "A Harlot's Progress" became an enduring social commentary on 18th-century London, establishing Hogarth as a master of satirical art and a prominent social critic.