Bedelende figuur before 1768

This is a limewood figure of a Beggar, carved by Simon Troger in the eighteenth century. The choice of limewood is interesting, as it’s a relatively soft material, favored for its fine grain, which allows for delicate detail. Look closely and you will see the evidence of Troger’s sure hand in the carving. He has captured the figure’s destitution through the carefully rendered ragged clothing. The deep undercuts and the contrast between the stained garments and exposed, pale skin suggest the figure's vulnerability. The way Troger articulated the face and posture, there’s a definite sense of lived experience; this isn't just a generic representation of poverty. In the 1700s, a piece like this would have been considered both art and craft, straddling the line between skilled handwork and fine art. Thinking about the social context of this piece, it prompts us to consider the economic disparities of the time, and how craft could be used to depict—and perhaps critique—the realities of poverty.