Beggars by a Door 1870

Mariano Fortuny Marsal created ‘Beggars by a Door’ using oil paints and the result is an intimate composition of light and shadow. Notice how the textured application of paint captures a sun-drenched wall and figures huddled in its shade, evoking a sense of stillness. The artist manipulates the formal elements to convey more than just a scene. The contrast between the brightly lit wall and the darkness enveloping the figures creates a visual hierarchy. This can be interpreted through a semiotic lens, with light symbolizing visibility or hope, and shadow representing obscurity or despair. Fortuny challenges traditional academic painting by focusing not on grand narratives but on the everyday reality of marginalized figures, using the formal structure of the painting to emphasize their social position. The rough texture and muted palette further amplify the themes of poverty and neglect. This attention to materiality and form places the artwork within a discourse of social commentary, inviting us to reconsider our perceptions of those living in the margins of society.