Beggar Woman Leaning on a Stick 1646

Rembrandt van Rijn's etching, "Beggar Woman Leaning on a Stick," created in 1646, depicts a woman in a worn cloak, her face marked with age and hardship. She leans heavily on a stick, her empty hand extended as if seeking alms. The etching's stark simplicity and the woman's expressive posture capture the plight of poverty, a recurring theme in Rembrandt's oeuvre, which often explored social inequalities and the human condition.