Sleeping Beggar (Mendiant endormi) 

Alphonse Legros created 'Sleeping Beggar' using etching, a printmaking technique that employs acid to cut into a metal plate, thus producing fine, detailed lines. Notice the dense hatching that models the figure. The tonal variations and textures give a somber, realistic dimension to the beggar’s weary pose, evoking empathy. Legros creates a composition that directs the viewer's gaze downwards, emphasizing the subject’s vulnerability and destitution. The lines that define the man’s clothes and the bench suggest a raw, unidealized representation of working-class life, in line with the Realist movement that prioritized truth and accuracy. This approach challenged the romanticized views of art and society prevalent at the time. Legros' etching operates within a semiotic system, where each line contributes to a larger narrative about poverty and social commentary.