Voddenraper 1824 - 1859

Paul Gavarni created this drawing, "Voddenraper," with pen and brush in gray ink. The artist composes the figure using contour lines and cross-hatching, to depict the texture and material of the ragpicker’s garments. Gavarni destabilizes established social categories in the formal construction of this work. The man is bent under the weight of his labor. His face, partially obscured, suggests anonymity, highlighting the universal struggle of the working class. The dark lines emphasize the tattered clothing, a visual signifier of poverty and marginalization. The composition challenges conventional representations of the working class. It invites viewers to reflect on the social structures that perpetuate inequality. The figure is not romanticized but presented with a raw honesty that invites empathy. This work functions not just aesthetically but also as a larger commentary on social injustice.