The artwork titled “Beggar with a crippled hand leaning on a stick” is a creation by the renowned Dutch master Rembrandt, dated to 1629. It belongs to the Baroque period, which is known for its dramatic expression and rich detail, and is categorized as a genre painting—a style depicting scenes from everyday life. Rembrandt’s work often reflects human conditions and emotions with profound empathy.
This particular artwork portrays a figure of a beggar, depicted mid-stride and supported by a walking stick. The subject’s posture and expression evoke a sense of weariness and hardship. Rembrandt’s use of line in the etching captures the texture of the beggar’s tattered clothing and the contours of his face and hands, suggesting a life of difficulty and toil. The figure’s hat sits atop his head at a slight angle and his cloak hangs heavily on his frame, further underscoring the weight of his personal plight. The beggar’s crippled hand draws attention, emphasizing his physical and possibly metaphorical inability to improve his circumstances. Despite the simplicity of the etching, the artwork conveys a deep sense of narrative and character, typical of Rembrandt’s keen ability to depict the human condition with empathy and insight.
