Sleeping Beggar (Mendiant endormi) 

Alphonse Legros made this etching, "Sleeping Beggar," using closely worked lines to create areas of dark shadow and light. The figure is hunched, face hidden, merging with the harsh architectural backdrop. We see him in a folded position, overwhelmed by the material conditions of his existence. Legros's treatment reflects a formal approach, emphasizing the contrasts of light and shadow to convey mood. The etching technique itself— a medium capable of both precision and expressive mark-making—enhances the grimness of the subject. Each line is deliberate, and the density of cross-hatching suggests texture and weight, deepening our emotional engagement. The strategic use of line and shadow not only represents a scene but also evokes a sense of despair. Note how Legros frames the sleeping beggar against the rough stonework, underscoring his vulnerability, so that the beggar is an integral part of the architectural space. Legros invites us to interpret the spatial construction of social realities.