Artwork

The Beggars: Obese Beggar with Lowered Eyes

The Beggars: Obese Beggar with Lowered Eyes, by Jacques Callot, 1623
The Beggars: Obese Beggar with Lowered Eyes, by Jacques Callot, 1623

The Beggars: Obese Beggar with Lowered Eyes is a print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1623 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Beggars: Obese Beggar with Lowered Eyes is a print by Jacques Callot, dated to around 1623, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a corpulent man dressed in antiquated attire, including a loose robe, hat, and skirt, with a staff in one hand and the other resting on his chest, conveying a sense of weariness through his downcast eyes and wrinkled face.

Technique & Style

Callot employed straightforward lines and shading to convey the subject's bulk and languid posture, achieving a sketch-like quality that suggests a rapid execution.

Context

The use of light and shadow in the print contributes to its overall effect, a technique known as chiaroscuro that creates a sense of depth and drama.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jacques Callot

Artist

Jacques Callot

Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.