Blind Beggar c. 18th century

Editor: Here we have Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich's "Blind Beggar." It looks like an etching, maybe from around 1757. The figure seems to be pleading. It’s pretty stark. What's your take? Curator: It’s as if Dietrich wants us to feel the raw nerve of this man's existence, wouldn't you agree? The cross-hatching creates a sense of depth. I wonder, is it a commentary on societal neglect, or is it simply a study of human form and emotion? Editor: I hadn't thought about the neglect aspect. It's heavier now, seeing it that way. Curator: Sometimes art sneaks up on you like that, doesn't it?