Artwork
Seated Beggar (Mendiant assis)
Seated Beggar (Mendiant assis) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Seated Beggar (Mendiant assis) is a 1874 print by Alphonse Legros, a French artist who later worked in Britain. It is an etching with drypoint, a combination of techniques that allow for varied textures and tonal ranges.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a solitary, hunched figure in a heavy coat, seated with their head tilted back and hands on knees. The sparse background and focus on the figure suggest a contemplation of the subject's condition or character.
Technique & Style
Legros used intaglio techniques to create the image, layering lines to achieve a range of darks and lights. The resulting texture is rough and expressive, with crisscrossed marks giving the figure a deeply felt presence.
History & Provenance
Legros created the work after relocating to London in 1863, where he contributed to a revival of etching in Britain. The print dates to 1874, a period when Legros was actively exploring various mediums, including printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
