Jongetje bedelend bij de koets van een elegant paar c. 1660 - 1687

Gesina ter Borch rendered this watercolor, "Boy Begging at the Carriage of an Elegant Couple," to capture a scene of 17th-century Dutch life. Note how the opulence of the carriage contrasts sharply with the figure of the begging boy. This motif of inequity is not new, though. Images of beggars pleading before the wealthy echo through history, seen even in ancient Roman reliefs. Consider how the "contemptus mundi"—the disdain for earthly vanities—a common theme in medieval art, might inform the creation of this scene. The wealthy are often symbols of moral corruption and spiritual emptiness. The act of begging itself carries a complex weight, symbolizing both desperation and the appeal for human compassion. Think of the countless depictions of saints and biblical figures offering alms, a gesture that seeks to heal the divide between the material and the spiritual. This visual tension persists, engaging viewers with the same moral questions across centuries.