Morphine Addicts 1887

"Morphine Addicts" (1887), by French artist Paul-Albert Besnard, depicts two women in a darkened room, their faces drawn and lifeless. The image, an etching, is rendered in a dark, somber palette, mirroring the subject matter. The women are positioned closely, emphasizing the intimacy, perhaps even dependency, between them. The presence of a bottle and the title of the piece further suggest a connection to drug use, a pervasive social problem of the late 19th century. Besnard's work, often focused on themes of contemporary life, invites viewers to consider the personal toll of addiction.