“The Thankful Poor,” painted by Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1894, exemplifies the Realism movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. The artwork portrays a poignant and intimate domestic scene featuring an elderly man and a young boy seated at a modest dining table.
In the artwork, the elderly man is depicted in a reflective pose with his hands clasped in prayer. The young boy, sitting across from him, mirrors this pose, evincing a moment of shared gratitude and contemplation. The setting is simple, with a table covered by a patterned cloth, a white pitcher, and modest tableware. The somber, muted colors and the warm light streaming in from the window on the left emphasize the serene and humble nature of the scene, reflecting Tanner’s mastery in capturing the grace and dignity inherent in everyday life.
