The Harlot Beats Hemp in Bridewell Prison - William Hogarth
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This engraving by William Hogarth, 'The Harlot Beats Hemp in Bridewell Prison', is the fourth plate from his series 'A Harlot's Progress'. The scene depicts Mary Hackabout in Bridewell Prison, forced to beat hemp as hard labour.
William Hogarth's engraving, 'The Harlot Beats Hemp in Bridewell Prison', is the fourth plate from his series 'A Harlot's Progress'. Created in 1732, the series follows the fictional story of Mary Hackabout, a young woman who arrives in London and descends into prostitution. This scene depicts Mary in Bridewell Prison, a house of correction, where she is forced to beat hemp as a form of hard labour. The composition is filled with details that satirise the social conditions of 18th-century London. Mary, dressed in a tattered gown, is surrounded by other inmates, some of whom are engaged in various activities, such as card playing and drinking. The prison interior is bleak, with stone walls and a high, beamed ceiling. A sign on the wall reads, 'Better to Work than Stand thus', a sardonic commentary on the prison's supposed purpose of rehabilitation. Hogarth uses his characteristic attention to detail to create a scene that is both humorous and critical, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities of life for the poor and marginalised in Georgian England. The print is a commentary on morality, social justice, and the consequences of vice.
The Harlot Beats Hemp in Bridewell Prison - William Hogarth
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12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified 200gsm fine art paper, with lifetime fade resistance.
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Each frame is sealed with rigid backing and fixings attached, no extra effort required.
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Received the beautiful hummingbird print in black frame. Great service, stunning print, I will post a picture when the room is finished. Thank you
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Beautiful print, great quality and love it with the white frame. Delivery was really fast. I've had loads of compliments from visitors as I've hung it in my hallway as the first thing you see when you enter the house. Couldn't be happier.
William Hogarth
Invented the comic strip three centuries early, lobbied Parliament for copyright law, and painted a shrimp girl that anticipated Impressionism by a hundred years.
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