Two Beggars c. 1629

Rembrandt van Rijn made this etching of Two Beggars. In 17th-century Netherlands, social structures were undergoing significant shifts with the rise of a merchant class and increasing urbanization, Rembrandt's choice to depict beggars speaks volumes. The image creates meaning through the beggars' tattered clothing, downcast expressions and the way they seem to be moving together, perhaps suggesting shared hardship or reliance on each other. This work reflects the artist's interest in the margins of Dutch society during a time of great economic expansion and the establishment of institutions like the Dutch East India Company. We can imagine that the figures are a silent commentary on the uneven distribution of wealth. Did Rembrandt critique the institutions of art? He may have challenged idealized representations in art. By researching economic records and social commentaries from the time, we gain a deeper understanding of Rembrandt's social consciousness. This work’s meaning is contingent on the social context in which it was made.