Hogarth’s Harlot Reveals All – Part 2

Figure 1 – Detail of the Harlot’s ‘keeper’ Scene 2, compared to Duncan’s Monitor (1866)

IMAGE CREDIT:  A Harlot’s Progress (1731) by William Hogarth, Duncan’s Monitor Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Let us now discover how the artist hid elements of the Second Degree within Scene 2.

Do you notice anything curious about the way in which this man holds up his teacup?

His other hand steadies a falling table, and this combination of hand positions mirrors a well-known illustration of the Second Degree from Duncan’s Monitor (1866).

While it may seem impossible to actually hold both cup and saucer in this manner, Hogarth was able to show the man’s left palm raised, at the same time that his right hand was faced down on the table.

In reacting to this falling table, the man has inadvertently exposed a sign from the ritual.

Figure 2 – The Harlot is baring her breast

IMAGE CREDIT:  A Harlot’s Progress (1731) by William Hogarth Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

The woman shows her naked breast, hinting at another part of the Second Degree:

‘The sign is given by taking hold of the left breast, as though you intended to tear out a piece of it, then draw your hand with the fingers partly clenched … with some quickness.’

—Avery Allyn (1831).

Note that the Harlot’s right breast is shown in the reversed print but would have been the correct left breast in the painting.

Figure 3 – Notice the foot position under the table

IMAGE CREDIT:  A Harlot’s Progress (1731) by William Hogarth Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Notice the position of the couple’s feet under the table. In scene 1 the young woman represented ‘the candidate’ with her feet at an awkward parallel.

Now that she is taking the Second Degree, she has her feet at a square, just like her male companion.

In my last article, I showed how Hogarth utilized two characters to reveal the signs of the First Degree.

The artist is using the same technique here, dividing the elements of the ritual between two people. By splitting the signs between the young Harlot and her ‘keeper’, Hogarth was able to make the secret less obvious.

As before, the storyline was cleverly adapted to accommodate these awkward postures.

Figure 4 – Scene 2 shows a young man creeping out of the room

IMAGE CREDIT:  A Harlot’s Progress (1731) by William Hogarth Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

The innocent girl was enticed into prostitution and is now set up in fine apartments. Her ‘keeper’ is an older gentleman who has arrived unannounced (his hat is still under his arm).

The Harlot was busy ‘entertaining’ a young man. She kicks over the table to cause a distraction for him to escape.

Masons might notice something curious about his stockings:

‘One looses the garter of his right-leg stocking, folds up the knee of his breeches…’

— Dundee Manuscript, 1727.

Figure 5 – The image of this serving boy became a popular icon

IMAGE CREDIT:  A Harlot’s Progress (1731) by William Hogarth Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Before we leave the scene, we should take a look at the serving boy who carries the kettle.

His eyes pop out at the sight of the Harlot’s exposed breast. Hogarth always adds something sexual like this in order to titillate the Brethren.

There are many more sexual references within Scene 3, which we will address next installment.

I present the full colour print below and challenge you to find the clever riddle that lies within it.

Figure 6 – A Harlot’s Progress Scene 3

IMAGE CREDIT:  A Harlot’s Progress (1731) by William Hogarth Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Here is a Clue – the watch, the tea and the cat’s bottom combine to give a line of ritual that is heard at the opening of every lodge.