Kreupele bedelaar met een stok

About this artwork

In die tijd werden lichamelijke beperkingen aan het onderlichaam aangeduid als 'kreupel zijn'.

Art Historical Context

**Kreupele bedelaar met een stok** (Crippled Beggar a Stick) is a poignant drawing by Dutch artist Hendrik Numan, created between 1746 and 1788. Measuring just 114 mm high by 85 mm wide on paper, this intimate work captures a humble figure leaning on a stick, embodying the struggles of the impoverished in 18th-century Netherlands. Numan, known for his sensitive depictions of everyday life, often focused on ordinary people, blending realism with a touch of empathy in the Rococo era's lighter style. The title's Dutch term "kreupel" reflects period language, where physical impairments of the lower body—such as those affecting mobility—were bluntly described as "kreupel zijn." This linguistic detail highlights evolving attitudes toward disability, from straightforward 18th-century vernacular to modern sensitivities. Rendered on paper, the modest medium suggests a preparatory sketch or personal study, common for artists honing techniques like line work and subtle shading to convey hardship without exaggeration. In a time of growing urban poverty amid Dutch prosperity, Numan's work invites reflection on social margins, offering museum visitors a window into forgotten lives through its small-scale emotional depth.

About the Artist

Hendrik Numan · 1723–1793

Hendrik Numan (1736–1788) was an 18th-century Dutch woodcut artist considered one of the best woodcutters of his generation, known for creating catchpenny prints that entertained and educated the poorer parts of Dutch society. Born in Amsterdam in October 1736, Numan specialized in the often-overlooked medium of woodcut at a time when copper engraving dominated fine printmaking. His father, Lauren...