1630
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Men and Women Beggars is a 1630 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows six people standing in a line, all dressed in worn, old-fashioned clothes. Their faces are tired-looking, and they each hold something—sticks, a basket, or a hat—like they’re asking for help. The background is simple, with a faint landscape and a few small figures in the distance. Notice how the artist used sharp lines to show the wrinkles in their clothes and the rough texture of their skin. This wasn’t painted—it was scratched into the metal plate first, then printed. If you like this style, look up etching to see how it works.
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
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