Bedelaar en twee honden 1463 - 1467

This engraving presents a gaunt, elderly beggar, accompanied by two dogs, rendered by an anonymous hand. His downcast gaze and feeble posture speak to his destitution. The staff he leans on, however, is a symbol we see echoed through history, from religious patriarchs to wandering philosophers. Consider the figure of Saint Joseph, often depicted with a staff. Though a symbol of support, it also signifies his pilgrimage and devotion. Here, though, it seems less about purpose, and more about the weight of existence. This image evokes complex emotions. The 'miseros' – the miserable ones – are figures of pity, but perhaps also a reflection of our own fears of decline. The dogs at his feet add another layer. Are they symbols of loyalty or further indicators of his low status? This image thus presents not just a scene of poverty, but a profound meditation on human vulnerability.