Bedelaarsfamilie 1520 - 1644

Hendrick Hondius I created this print, “Beggar Family,” in 1644, after a design by Lucas van Leyden dating back to 1520. Hondius lived during the Eighty Years’ War, a period of great upheaval and social change in the Netherlands, during which poverty was widespread, and images of beggars were common. This print is striking for its depiction of a family in distress. A man plays the bagpipes as a woman carries a child on her shoulders, and another walks with them, leading a goat on a leash. It gives us insight into the lives of those on the margins of society, those who were often overlooked or ignored by the wealthy elite. The family is the subject, but the artist makes no attempt to ennoble the figures. The print is an historical document, a reminder of the struggles faced by many during a turbulent period in European history. It acknowledges the difficult realities of poverty while hinting at the social commentary which runs through art history.