The Sleeping Rag Vendor 1901

"The Sleeping Rag Vendor" (1901) by Donald Shaw MacLaughlan is a poignant etching depicting a rag vendor sleeping among her wares. The artist's masterful use of line creates a sense of depth and texture, effectively portraying the harsh reality of the vendor's life. The composition, dominated by a mountainous pile of rags, emphasizes the woman's small and vulnerable figure, emphasizing the poverty and exhaustion she experiences. The print is an excellent example of social realism, capturing the lives of marginalized individuals in a gritty yet compassionate way.