The Beggars 1823

"The Beggars," a lithograph by Louis Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), depicts five individuals, their faces filled with desperation and hardship, their impoverished state vividly conveyed through Boilly's masterful use of detail and subtle shading. This poignant work, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, exemplifies Boilly's focus on social commentary, capturing the stark realities of poverty in 19th-century France. The lithograph’s title, "Les Gueux?" ("The Beggars?"), suggests a question about the plight of these individuals, inviting viewers to consider their social context and the broader societal issues surrounding poverty.