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Arrival in London, 1731. Engraving. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York.
The first series shows the "Harlot" that her name is Molly Hackabout
, arriving in England. She is bringing her goose with her. It also shows
on the picture an old lady that looks as if she is telling Molly to enter
into the prostitution business.
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The other print shows Molly with a patron who is portrayed as a Jew. This indicates that there were negative stereotypes surrounding Jews living in England. Molly is seducing the Jew, and a monkey is shown in the pictured on the floor. The monkey is an icon that represents a passion or a lust you can't control. It also shows an African peasant boy dressed of like someone from India which is similar in its content to the representation of the Jew. |
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Next portrait shows Molly that is now older and has is losing her beauty.
It shows a letter that says "a Pastoral letter for my love." A guy is coming
with some guards, looking for his stolen watch.
Molly's face looks rotten from syphilitic sores and because of this she has lost her beauty and the ability to get money, she turns into be a thief. Her life as a prostitute has already finished. |
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Now Molly is in the workhouse prison beating hemp fibers, and is in a lot of trouble. She is obviously exhausted and so her friend attempts to flash a little leg to get the prison warden off her back. Benind Molly another inmate picks her pocket and winks at the guard. If she does not work she will be placed in the stocks like the woman behind her. On the stocks it says "Better to work than to stand thus." |
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Next picture shows Molly dead or dying in her chair. It shows people that are there with her and are stealing her money and things. |
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Final scene shows Molly's funeral. It shows people that are using her coffin as a coffee table, and without care that she has died. The preacher looks like if he is a dummy, and is there with a prostitute |