The artwork, titled “The Beggars,” was created by Honoré Daumier around 1845. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the Realism art movement and measures 59.7 by 74 centimeters. It represents a genre painting, depicting everyday scenes and subjects in a realistic manner.
In “The Beggars,” Daumier portrays a group of individuals who are destitute and marginalized, capturing their plight and the harsh reality they endure. The figures are arranged in close proximity, each displaying a distinct posture and expression that conveys weariness and despair. The use of stark contrasts and dim lighting heightens the sense of somberness and solemnity, emphasizing the subjects’ difficult circumstances. Daumier’s mastery in rendering the human condition with empathy and realism is evident in this poignant composition.