One of the two old 1634

This print was produced by Rembrandt van Rijn, likely in the 1630s in the Netherlands, using an etching technique. The image shows a crouched, elderly figure in ragged clothing, and what appears to be a discarded hat floating above. Rembrandt made many images of the poor and elderly. In the Dutch Republic, the rise of a wealthy merchant class was accompanied by new forms of poverty. Rembrandt found commercial success portraying the wealthy elite, but he also explored the lives of those excluded from that world. Art historians debate whether these images are compassionate or condescending. To answer this question, we must understand the visual language of the time and the attitudes toward poverty and charity. We can learn about the historical context by looking at city records, religious tracts, and popular literature. Rembrandt’s art prompts us to consider the role of art and the artist in representing social inequality.