Beggar Walking on a Crutch

Art Historical Context

In the intimate drawing *Beggar Walking on autch*, Andries Both captures a poignant moment of human struggle from the Dutch Golden Age. Created around 1632, this small-scale work (4 3/4 × 6 7/8 in.) depicts a figure hobbling on a crutch, embodying Both's fascination with everyday life among the lower classes. As a member of the Utrechtaggisti, Both drew inspiration from Caravaggio's dramatic realism, infusing his genre scenes—often called *bambocciate*—with authenticity and empathy for the marginalized. The medium, metalpoint on prepared paper, is a masterful choice that highlights Both's tec...