1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Sleeping Beggar (Mendiant endormi) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
The painting depicts a man sleeping on the ground, his head resting on his arm. He is dressed in tattered clothing, with his legs bent at the knees and his feet bare. The background is dark and indistinct, with some faint lines suggesting a wall or other structure. The man's pose and expression convey a sense of exhaustion and vulnerability. His face is relaxed, with his mouth slightly open and his eyes closed. His body language suggests that he has been sleeping for some time, and may have been disturbed by the artist's presence. This painting is an example of Romanticism, a movement that emphasized emotion and individualism. It is also a good example of the technique of etching, which involves using acid to create intricate lines and textures on a metal plate. To learn more about this technique, look up "etching".
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
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