“The Beggars” is an oil painting on panel created by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1568, during the Northern Renaissance period. The artwork measures 18.5 by 21.5 cm and is classified as a genre painting. Currently, it is housed at the Louvre in Paris, France.
The painting depicts a group of beggars, showcasing Bruegel’s keen interest in the lives and conditions of the peasantry. The scene contains disabled figures, each with different impairments that necessitate their use of crutches or prosthetics. The figures are clad in tattered clothing with patches, suggesting their impoverished state. They are portrayed against a rural landscape with details like a brick wall and greenery in the background. The expressions on their faces evoke a sense of hardship and resilience. The composition is rendered with Bruegel’s characteristic attention to detail and subtle coloring, providing insight into the social issues of his time.
