A blind Hurdy-Gurdy Player and Family receiving Alms

A blind Hurdy-Gurdy Player and Family receiving Alms is Rembrandt’s most monumental treatment of the theme of beggars, a subject prominent in 17th century art, often used as an exhortation to the viewer to commit acts of charity. Rembrandt’s deeply sympathetic depiction of an impoverished musician and his family avoids the caricature of the poor common at the time, focusing instead on their humanity and the redemptive act of giving. The rendering of the youth standing with his back to the viewer has been described by Ger Luitjen as ‘unparalleled in the history of printmaking’. He goes on, ‘The way in which the contours are delineated against a densely hatched section behind, the few lines that are needed to indicate shapes, the shrewd use of light effects and perfect rendering of textures are signs of an artist whose skills are fully matured’ (E. Hinterding, G. Luijten & M. Royalton-Kisch, Rembrandt the Printmaker, The British Museum Presss, London, 2000, p. 251).