Where can I see Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty?

Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty?

Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty

Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Sorgheloos ("Carefree") in Poverty is a painted composition that portrays a shirtless male figure seated on a wooden barrel. He holds a hammer‑like implement, while his discarded clothing lies nearby. A small dog rests close to him, and a mouse scurries across the floor. The interior is filled with jars, pots, and a shelf crowded with tools, and a narrow window reveals a figure working outdoors.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure’s relaxed posture, combined with the untidy surroundings, suggests a state of ease despite material scarcity. The title reinforces this reading, implying that the scene may symbolize a philosophical attitude toward poverty: a willingness to remain untroubled by lack of wealth or labor.

Technique & Style

The work employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model forms and create depth. Illuminated areas highlight the man's torso and the objects on the shelf, while darker tones recede into the background, giving the cramped interior a three‑dimensional quality.

Context

The inclusion of everyday objects—tools, containers, a domestic animal—places the painting within a genre tradition that depicts ordinary life. The external view through the window introduces a juxtaposition between indoor idleness and outdoor activity, a common motif in works that explore social or moral themes.

Artist & collection

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Continue through works from the same source collection.