Étude de Mandiants (Study of Beggars)
1764
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a group of people huddled together, looking tired and worn. A woman in a hat leans on a walking stick, holding a baby while a child clings to her skirt. Two other kids stand close, one holding a bundle, all dressed in simple, rumpled clothes. The background is plain, with just a hint of ground and shadows. The title calls it a "study of beggars," but the artist didn’t just copy life—he used a loose, sketchy style to show emotion. The brown tones make everything feel rough and real, like the paper itself. Want to see more like this? Check out technique: etching, drypoint, aquatint.
