Bedelaar 1884

Auguste Danse created this print, "Bedelaar" – or "Beggar" – in 1884 using etching. Consider the social context of late 19th-century Europe, where rapid industrialization created both immense wealth and widespread poverty. Images of the poor and working class became increasingly common in art. But were they simple records or social critiques? The image presents us with a man whose gaze confronts the viewer directly. Danse invites the viewer to consider the individual humanity of someone often overlooked. The Rijksmuseum's records and other archives from the period might reveal more about the specific circumstances that led Danse to create this work. Was it part of a series? Was it commissioned? These questions help us understand the complex relationship between art, social commentary, and the institutions that shape artistic production.