The Industrious Prentice Grown Rich and Shefiff of London 1747

William Hogarth created this print, “The Industrious Prentice Grown Rich and Sheriff of London,” in the 18th century, a period defined by its rigid social hierarchies. Hogarth used his art to navigate and critique this societal structure, with prints like this one acting as a form of social commentary. Here, we see a scene that appears to celebrate the rise of an industrious apprentice. Yet, Hogarth was deeply interested in how people performed their class and social identities. The print can be read as a meditation on the performative aspects of social mobility. It also prompts us to reflect on the human cost of social advancement. Hogarth highlights the emotional complexities of ambition and success. He seems to ask, what does it mean to grow rich, and what is sacrificed along the way? Hogarth uses the print medium to question the dominant narratives of his time, subtly challenging the status quo.