Old man seated (Vieillard assis) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching titled ‘Old man seated’ during a time of significant social change. The artwork captures an elderly man in a moment of quiet contemplation, seated with a posture that hints at the weight of years. Legros's work often portrays the working class and the marginalized, reflecting his own experiences and sympathies rooted in his upbringing. Born in France, Legros experienced the socio-economic disparities of the time and the rise of industrialization. He then moved to England, where he observed a society marked by class distinctions and social inequalities. The lines etched here seem to convey the man's sense of endurance. The rendering invites us to consider the intersections of age, class, and identity, and to reflect on the stories and experiences embedded in the faces of those often overlooked. The old man's gaze connects us to the past, inviting us to acknowledge the lives, histories, and societal shifts that have shaped our present.