Poorness Collection

Jozef Marian Chelmonski (1849-1914). Herdsman, 1897
Jozef Marian Chelmonski (1849-1914). Polish painter. Herdsman, 1897. National Museum Gallery. Krakow, Poland

Beggar boys playing dice, 1675, by Bartolome Esteban Murillo
Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1618-1682). Spanish painter. Beggar boys playing dice, 1675. Detail. Alte Pinakothek. Munich. Germany

Gustave Courbet (1819-1877). Realist movement. Young ladies
Gustave Courbet (1819-1877). French painter. Realist movement. Young ladies of the village, 1851-1852. Oil on canvas. Metropolitan Museum. New York. United States

Saint Ivo of Kermartin, 1711. Copy. Prague. Czech Republic
Saint Ivo of Kermartin, T.O.S.F. (1253-1303). Baroque sculpture by Matyas Bernard Braun on behalf of the Faculty of Law (1711)

Spain. Barcelona. Mass output. Engraving. Colored
Spain. Barcelona. Mass output. Engraving by Rico. The Spanish and American Illustration, 1890. Colored

Spain. 19th century. Pawnshop. Pawn jewelry. Madrid. Colored
Spain. 19th century. Pawnshop and Savings Bank, an institution created with a social and religious assistance to the most needy. Pawn jewelry. Madrid

Saint Ivo of Kermartin, 1711, copy, and Old Town Bridge Towe
Saint Ivo of Kermartin, T.O.S.F. (1253-1303) and Old Town Bridge Tower. Baroque sculpture by Matyas Bernard Braun on behalf of the Faculty of Law (1711)

The last pawning. 18th century. Colored engraving. The Artistic Illustration, 1886

Arrival of Italian immigrants to New York. 1863. Colored engraving

Inside view of a hut built by the mennonist settlers in Kansas, USA. Colored engraving of the newspaper Frank Leslies (1875)

Distribution of tickets for soup to the needy people in the office of Windmill Street. 19th century. Manchester. England. Colored engraving

Poverty in Sheffield. Needy kids going to the distribution of food in Vestryhall. Colored engraving in The Spanish and American Illustration, 1879 by Ovejero

Poor family at home. Early nineteenth century. Colored engraving
Poor family at home. Early 19th-century. Colored engraving

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"Capturing the Harsh Realities Through Art" Bartolome Esteban Murillo's painting, "Beggar boys playing dice, " from 1675, depicts the desperation and hopelessness that often accompanies poverty. The young boys find solace in a game of chance, their innocent faces betraying the hardships they endure daily. Franciszek Streitt's "Burial of a Pauper in Germany" (1880) serves as a poignant reminder of society's indifference towards those who have fallen into destitution. The pauper is laid to rest with little ceremony or compassion, highlighting the stark contrast between wealth and poverty. Jozef Marian Chelmonski's painting "Herdsman" (1897) portrays an impoverished man tending to his meager flock amidst barren landscapes. His weathered face reflects years of struggle and resilience, symbolizing the endurance required to survive in dire circumstances. Gustave Courbet's realist movement captures the essence through his piece titled "Young ladies. " These women are not adorned with opulent jewelry or luxurious garments but instead wear simple attire, emphasizing their humble existence within an unforgiving social hierarchy. In Prague, Czech Republic stands a copy of Saint Ivo of Kermartin from 1711 alongside Old Town Bridge Tower—a juxtaposition representing both spiritual guidance and societal neglect towards those living in poverty-stricken conditions. A colored engraving from 19th-century Spain showcases a pawnshop where desperate individuals pawn their jewelry for meager sums—highlighting how even personal possessions become mere commodities when faced with extreme impoverishment. Another colored engraving illustrates "The Last Pawning" during the 18th century—an image that encapsulates despair as people reluctantly part ways with cherished belongings due to financial hardship.