Beggar with Crutches and a Wallet c. 17th century

Editor: This is "Beggar with Crutches and a Wallet" by Jacques Callot. It's a small etching, and the figure is so worn down. What can you tell me about the social context? Curator: Callot’s image speaks volumes about 17th-century social stratification, wouldn’t you agree? The figure’s visible poverty underscores the vast inequalities of the period, where disability often relegated people to the margins. Editor: Absolutely. Was Callot making a statement? Curator: Perhaps. Consider how his detailed rendering of the beggar's tattered clothes contrasts with the opulence enjoyed by the elite. How might contemporary audiences interpret this? Editor: I see it as a stark reminder of enduring issues of inequality and representation. Curator: Indeed, art like this demands we confront uncomfortable truths about power and privilege.