A Rake's Progress, Plate 4 1735

"A Rake's Progress, Plate 4" is an engraving by William Hogarth created in 1735. This is the fourth installment of a series of eight engravings depicting the downfall of a young man who wastes his inheritance on gambling and debauchery. In this scene, the protagonist, Tom Rakewell, is shown in a destitute state, surrounded by beggars and thieves. The scene, filled with details of 18th-century London life, reveals the bleak consequences of Tom's reckless behavior, as Hogarth skillfully uses satire to expose the vices of society.