A woman giving a mug to an old man c. 1812 - 1820

Francisco de Goya rendered this image in ink wash, portraying a woman offering a mug to an elderly man. The act of offering sustenance is a motif deeply embedded in the human psyche. We see echoes of it in countless images throughout history: the Virgin Mary offering her breast, a symbol of nurturing and life, or classical depictions of Charity, where a woman selflessly feeds the needy. Here, the mug becomes a vessel not just of liquid, but of empathy, a connection forged in shared humanity. The woman’s offering is a potent reminder of our innate capacity for compassion. The image pulls us into a primal scene of care and vulnerability. It speaks to something elemental within us. The act of giving transcends mere charity; it is a profound statement about our interconnectedness, a gesture that defies time and resonates across cultures.