A Rake's Progress, Plate 1 1735

William Hogarth created this engraving, "A Rake's Progress, Plate 1," using etching and engraving techniques. The composition is structured around a central figure being measured for clothes, a symbolic entry into his new life. Notice how Hogarth uses line and form to create depth and narrative. The chaotic arrangement of objects—scattered furniture, overflowing chests, and figures in various states of distress—contributes to a sense of moral and financial disarray. The room itself becomes a stage for Hogarth's commentary on wealth, inheritance, and moral corruption. Hogarth uses the domestic space as a means to expose the social and ethical failings of his time. He destabilizes conventional notions of domestic order, thereby questioning the values of 18th-century British society. Through formal precision, Hogarth critiques social norms and invites us to ponder the consequences of unchecked privilege.