Fotoreproductie van L'Aumone van Auguste Serrure before 1863

This is a photographic reproduction of 'L'Aumone' by Auguste Serrure, now held in the Rijksmuseum. At its heart, the image features a woman giving alms, a motif laden with historical and cultural significance. The act of giving alms appears across time in various forms. Consider its echoes in religious art, where saints and deities are depicted bestowing gifts upon the less fortunate. The open hand, the giving gesture, transcends mere charity; it speaks to a fundamental human impulse: compassion. This impulse is not static, however. In medieval art, such acts were often tied to religious penance, yet here, the scene evokes more secular, social undertones, focusing on the relationship between giver and receiver. We see, through the ages, this symbol of giving re-emerging, evolving, each time carrying a new yet familiar weight. The emotional power embedded in the simple act continues to engage us, speaking to deep-seated needs for community and care.