Bedelaar en de rijke man 1778 - 1785

This print, titled "Beggar and the Rich Man" was created by Noach van der Meer the Younger, around the late 18th century. It's made using etching and comes from a series. The image shows a well-dressed man bursting into a room, sword drawn, where another man sits writing, by candlelight. The linear quality and the contrast between light and shadow are achieved by scratching lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. This process allows for the reproduction of images, making them accessible to a wider audience. The artist is interested in showing us a story of wealth, labor, and vulnerability. The etching medium itself is linked to the expansion of knowledge and commerce, mirroring the social dynamics depicted within the scene. It reflects the artist’s attention to the social tensions of his time, capturing a moment where power and poverty collide.