The Urchin 1861 - 1862

Edouard Manet etched this plate of "The Urchin" during the late 19th century, capturing a slice of Parisian street life. Our eyes are drawn to the boy and the bag he is holding, heavy with contents we can't quite discern. The figure of the "urchin" carries its own historical weight. Often depicted in art and literature as a symbol of urban poverty, the "urchin" reminds me of the figures found in Hogarth’s engravings of London's underbelly or even further back to ancient Roman depictions of street children. Here, Manet’s urchin doesn’t necessarily evoke despair, but a kind of self-sufficient resilience. The boy’s knowing smile suggests an awareness beyond his years. Like a Hermes figure, he is a messenger of the streets, and the bag— a symbol of burdens carried— reminds us of the weight of societal neglect and its psychological impact on the young. Ultimately, Manet’s etching, as a cultural artifact, reflects and refracts these recurring motifs, revealing the cyclical nature of social realities and their enduring emotional resonance.