A Young Street Urchin 1874

"A Young Street Urchin" is a 1874 etching by Félix Hilaire Buhot, currently housed in the Art Institute of Chicago. This realistic portrayal of a young boy, likely from the streets of Paris, captures the hardships of poverty through detailed lines and shading, emphasizing the subject's worn clothing and posture. Buhot, known for his innovative use of aquatint, employs this technique here to create a textured and atmospheric effect, further enhancing the sense of realism and social commentary of the piece.