A Harlot's Progress, plate 1

In William Hogarth's A Harlot's Progress, plate 1, the viewer is introduced to the story of a young woman, M. Hackabout, who leaves her rural life to navigate the bustling streets of London. This piece exemplifies genre painting, vividly capturing her modest initial encounter with urban seduction. The composition hints at the Rococo style through its delicate detail and playful undertones, contrasting with the darker themes of vice and morality. As the first in a series of six, the work sets the stage for Hogarth’s moral allegory, reminiscent of Pilgrim's Progress, illustrating the perilous journey into London's underbelly.