Rag Picker Collection

Rag-Picker, c. 1843. Creator: Charles Emile Jacque
Rag-Picker, c. 1843

Ragman, n. d. Creator: Charles Emile Jacque
Ragman, n.d

The Rag-picker, published March 19, 1893. Creator: Theophile Alexandre Steinlen
The Rag-picker, published March 19, 1893

Arrested rag-pickers in City Hall Park, New York, from Harpers Weekly, pub
2652829 Arrested rag-pickers in City Hall Park, New York, from Harpers Weekly, pub. 1867 (engraving) by Bush, Charles Green (1842-1909); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American

The Rag Picker, pub. 1870 (engraving)
1144601 The Rag Picker, pub. 1870 (engraving) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American, out of copyright

Rag Picker
LLM460736 Rag Picker by Menpes, Mortimer Ludington (1855-1938); Private Collection; (add.info.: Rag Picker. Illustration for Paris (A&C Black, 1909).); © Look and Learn

The rag-pickers of Paris (colour litho)
2818320 The rag-pickers of Paris (colour litho) by Meyer, Henri (1841-99) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The rag-pickers of Paris. Les chiffonniers de Paris)

Napoleon III, French Emperor 1852-1870, dressed as a rag-picker (Chiffonnier)
538310 Napoleon III, French Emperor 1852-1870, dressed as a rag-picker (Chiffonnier), warned off by Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian Chancellor

The little rag-and-bone man (b / w photo)
3096176 The little rag-and-bone man (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The little rag-and-bone man)

La Vieille aux Loques, 1858. Creator: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
La Vieille aux Loques, 1858

Rag Pickers, Quartier Mouffetard, Paris, 1858. Creator: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Rag Pickers, Quartier Mouffetard, Paris, 1858

VENICE: PEASANT, 1869. A peasant rag picker of Naples, Italy. Photograph, 1869

CHINA: RAG-PICKERS, c1920. Rag-pickers carrying bundles of rags down the street in China. Photograph, c1920

Napoleon III, French Emperor 1852-1870, dressed as a rag-picker (Chiffonnier), warned off by Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian Chancellor

NEW YORK: RAG-PICKERS. Rag-pickers who have been placed under arrest gathered in City Hall Park, New York. Wood engraving, 1867

RAGMAN, 19th CENTURY. Line engraving, French, after Charles-Joseph Travies de Villers (1804-1859)

PAPER MANUFACTURE. The sorting of rags for the manufacture of paper. Line engraving, 19th century, after Felix Thorigny

NEW YORK: POVERTY, 1868. New York City rag pickers selling their gleanings to a scrap merchant. Wood engraving, 1868

IMMIGRANTS: CHINESE, 1875. A Chinese rag pickers house in Dupont Street, San Francisco, California. Wood engraving, American, 1875

NEW YORK: RAG-PICKER, 1870. A German immigrant rag-picker passes a policeman in a New York City street: wood engraving, American, 1870

TENEMENT LIFE, 1879. Rag-Pickers Court off Mulberry Street in New York City. American wood engraving after W. A
TENEMENT LIFE, 1879. Rag-Pickers Court off Mulberry Street in New York City. American wood engraving after W.A. Rogers, 1879

CHINESE IMMIGRANTS, 1875. A Chinese rag-picker in San Francisco, California. Wood engraving, American, 1875

FRANCE: PAPER MANUFACTURE. Women workers sorting rags, which were then dropped through an opening to the floor below into a tank for fermentation. Copper engraving, French, 18th century

NEW YORK: RAG-PICKER, 1870. An immigrant German rag-picker in New York City. Wood engraving, American, 1870

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"The Forgotten Heroes: Unveiling the Lives of Rag Pickers Through Art" In the world of art, there exists a collection of captivating pieces that shed light on an often overlooked group in society - the rag pickers. These individuals, depicted in various forms by talented artists such as Charles Emile Jacque, Theophile Alexandre Steinlen, and James Abbott McNeill Whistler, offer us a glimpse into their arduous lives. One such artwork is "Rag-Picker" by Charles Emile Jacque from 1843. This piece portrays a figure stooped over amidst heaps of discarded rags, symbolizing the tireless efforts these individuals put forth to make ends meet. Similarly, "The Rag-picker" published in March 1893 by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen captures the resilience and determination etched on the face of a ragman navigating through city streets. Even across continents, this occupation was not confined to one place alone. In New York City's City Hall Park during an unspecified time captured by Harpers Weekly publication shows arrested rag-pickers highlighting both their struggle for survival and societal challenges they faced. Napoleon III himself donned the attire of a chiffonnier or rag-picker in an intriguing portrayal that questions social norms and highlights their existence within French society during his reign from 1852-1870. James Abbott McNeill Whistler's works like "La Vieille aux Loques" (1858) and "Rag Pickers, Quartier Mouffetard Paris" (1858) provide vivid glimpses into Parisian rag pickers' daily lives with striking detail and emotion. These artworks serve as powerful reminders that behind every discarded item lies someone who tirelessly sorts through them seeking value amidst what others deem worthless. Through these artistic masterpieces spanning different eras and styles emerges a narrative about those who were often unseen but played crucial roles in keeping our cities clean and our societies functioning.