Who painted Beggar with Wooden Leg?

Beggar with Wooden Leg was painted by Jacques Callot in 1622.

Where can I see Beggar with Wooden Leg?

Beggar with Wooden Leg is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Beggar with Wooden Leg?

Beggar with Wooden Leg is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Beggar with Wooden Leg

Jacques Callot , 1622

Beggar with Wooden Leg is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Beggar with Wooden Leg is an etching on laid paper created by Jacques Callot around 1622. It is one of over 1,400 etchings by the French baroque artist, known for documenting the social landscape of his era.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts an elderly beggar with a wooden peg leg, dressed in a wide-brimmed hat, loose shirt, and baggy pants, holding a hat in his left hand. The subject reflects Callot's focus on marginalized figures of his time.

Technique & Style

Callot employed etching techniques to convey texture through lines, evident in the beggar's clothing folds and the wooden cane's grain. This method involved etching into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1622, the work is part of Callot's diverse oeuvre, which also includes religious, military, and landscape themes, characterized by detailed observational rendering.

Context

This piece sits within Callot's broader documentation of 17th-century social life, alongside other depictions of outcasts, soldiers, and entertainers, offering a glimpse into the era's social fabric.

Legacy

As part of Callot's extensive body of work, Beggar with Wooden Leg contributes to his lasting impact on baroque printmaking, notable for its detailed and observant style.