#10 Hanc Saga: Bottoms Up

Chicky
Current mood: Happy
Current action: Waiting for his turn (haircut from ma ma)



Porky
Current mood: Very happy
Current action: Getting his haircut and happily splashing water


Oh no! I think my memory stick got corrupted with virus. I can't transfer any of the pics taken on the boys. Stupid stupid stupid * *

Need to wait for Dolzer to come home and solve this mystery. Already scan the computer and there's no virus. What's the prob? ~

I was researching some time back on Hanc Saga medieval township shoo~ and I got sidetracked by an unexpected finding of this painting called A Harlot's Progress. Actually it's a series of 6 paintings which tells a story of a young woman, Moll who falls from grace.

What intrigue me was the way the story being told from each painting, set during the early 18th century - an early form of comic as of today. I hope to share it with my readers.

A Harlot's Progress by William Hogarth (1697-1764)

Plate 01

The story begins with Moll arriving in London to seek employment as a seamstress but a pox-ridden procuress and brothel keeper deceives her in the prospect of a more profitable occupation. In the background, a notorious rake and his pimp watches with anticipation.

Visual clues:

• Moll carries a scissors and pincushion on her arm
• The clergyman on horseback fails to notice his horse upsetting a stack of pans or Moll's plight
• Londoners ignorance
• The inn sign of a bell, may refer to 'belle', French for beautiful woman
• Dead goose and teetering pans foreshadows Moll's imminent 'fall'

Plate 02

Moll became a mistress of a wealthy Jewish merchant. He came home unexpectedly and she overturns the table to distract his attention while her clandestine lover tiptoes out.

Visual clues:

• It is shown the merchant's corrupted state through his exotic possessions: the young female servant, the tea set, the mahogany table, a mask from masquerades, paintings, the monkey and the black houseboy - mostly derived from colonial trade

Plate 03

Moll has gone from kept woman to a common prostitute with an old, pox-ridden maid to serve her. In the background, the magistrate and 3 armed bailiffs coming through the door to arrest her for her activities. A scantily dressed Moll who is holding a watch, is unaware of their presence. The magistrate is fixed upon the items hung on the wall.

Visual clues:

• Cat pose suggests Moll's new posture
• The witch hat and birch rod suggest black magic or role-playing sadomasochism

Plate 04

Moll beating hemp (plant fiber: cannabis) for hangman's nooses at Bridewell Prison under a threatening jailer who points her to the task. The jailer's wife steal Moll's clothings and winking from behind.

Visual clues:

• A man with his hands chained under the sign "Better to Work/than Stand thus", apparently refused to work
• The man standing next to Moll may have cheated in card games since a card fallen out on the floor
• The prisoners from left to right are in order of decreasing wealth ( a black woman at the end)
• Moll's servant trying on her shoes

Plate 05

Moll is out of prison, reduced to poverty and dying of syphilis. Her maid try to stop the doctors from arguing on their medical methods which appear to be a choice of bleeding. Another woman, possibly the landlady going through Moll's possessions in order to make up for the rent.

Visual clues:

• A hungry child, presumably Moll's, attempting to cook but being ignored by everyone in the room
• Several bottles of medicines litter on the floor

Plate 06

The plate on Moll's coffin indicates she died at the age of 23. At her funeral, a gathering of all the scavengers, it was a grotesque mixture of grief fueled by alcohol and indifference. Moll's son plays innocently, oblivious about his surrounding.

Visual clues:

• A distracted cleric spills his brandy as he sat next to his female companion
• Moll's maid is the only one upset the way the funeral is being conducted
  
• Another prostitute steals the undertaker's hankerchief while he playfully pulls on her glove
• All the prostitutes that gather at Moll's wake are pox-ridden

Finally I get to post it up. Been saving it for the longest time. Then I took some pics on my very first drawing (back in 1986) when my dad gave me a diary book.

My old diary (First Diary)

Update on my old room: Already cleared up 2/3 and donated most of my old clothes and items away.

Title: School girls

I think my teacher in kindy organized a role-playing game: customers(us)/vendor(teacher) using fake money and empty bottles/boxes/cans. Dolzer asks how my cans can stack in such way.

Title: Princess of the univers

Princess of the universe with the missing "e". I remember fondly I couldn't draw the feet properly. The feet area almost had a torn hole (can't see clearly) due to excess rubbing. My dad helped me with it.

Title: Barbie doll stall

I had my first Barbie in that year as well. Mum bought it from Ipoh's Super Kinta Departmental Stores. Every year from then onwards, I would get to buy a special toy for my birthday and it would be BARBIE .

Played Barbie up to my mid-secondary years ~

Title: Dancer's from Paris

Dolzer uses his finger to measure the length of the arms and legs to see how proportional it is to each other.

Title: Snow White

A painting of a dwarf on the wall. Looks more like an occult practice.

Title: Mermaid & Merman, Make-up Room & Flowers, Gold & Diamond, Drinks & Food, Dancing & Swimming

My parents first introduced me to the Little Mermaid's story which inspired this drawing. It has a tragic ending unlike the Disney version and I Mermaid's story from all other fairytales I watched/read.

Title: Big Family

No idea why I drew this and no it's not my dream family . Dolzer said I was being very negligent, leaving all the babies on their own while I watched tv . And there's something disproportion about the size of my head .

That was the last pic for 1986. I couldn't find anymore diaries my dad gave in the subsequent years.

I wonder when Chicky and Porky will start drawing Ultraman for me. ~

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(click on image to enlarge)

As hungry as a horse is, Crow gobbles up the entire barrel of Paco drink without realizing it's actually made from raw fish guts!