The artwork titled “The Beggar took her by the hand and led her away” is an illustration by Arthur Rackham, a notable artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement, which is also known as Modern style. This particular piece is part of a series of illustrations for the collection “Snowdrop & Other Tales” by the Brothers Grimm, showcasing Rackham’s distinctive style that often graced fairy tale and folklore storybooks.
In the image, we see what appears to be a beggar, dressed in tattered clothing, leading a young woman by the hand. The beggar is depicted with a hat and a long coat, using a walking stick, and the young woman follows him, her expression one of reservation or uncertainty. They are in a winter landscape, with bare trees and a fence indicating a rural setting, possibly on the outskirts of a village or in the countryside. The colors are muted, with a sepia-like quality, a characteristic technique used by Rackham to convey a sense of antiquity and fantasy. The artwork is intricately detailed, particularly in the clothing and the environment, which is typical of Rackham’s highly regarded artistic skill.