Bedelaarsjongen 1629 - 1682

Prinz Ruprecht created this etching titled "Bedelaarsjongen," or Beggar Boy, sometime in the 17th century. Ruprecht, nephew of Charles I of England, lived a life of privilege and power, and his artistic pursuits occurred amidst significant political and social upheaval. The image depicts a barefoot young boy in tattered clothing. With his hands on his hips and head tilted skyward, he seems to be calling out. The setting includes what looks like other figures near a building. The work invites us to consider the lives of the less fortunate during this era. Ruprecht made many etchings depicting military figures, as well as this image of a poor boy. The creation and reception of this artwork are embedded in the complex dynamics of class and representation. Ruprecht, an aristocrat, attempts to capture the likeness and perhaps the spirit of someone from a vastly different social stratum. What does it mean to make art that engages with subjects and experiences far removed from one's own life?