Vier figuren in een vervallen huiskamer c. 1787 - 1801

Jean Louis Darcis's "Vier figuren in een vervallen huiskamer" (c. 1787-1801) is a poignant depiction of a family in a state of poverty. The scene is set in a dimly lit, dilapidated room, highlighting the family's hardship. Four figures are present - an elderly man sits at a table, seemingly lost in thought, while a woman stands nearby holding a young child. A second woman sits by a fireplace, while a young boy slumps on a stool. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, with stark contrasts between light and dark, creates a sense of pathos and emphasizes the family's desperate situation. This evocative print is an example of the social realism genre, drawing attention to the plight of the impoverished during the late 18th century.